Have you ever sat stuck in traffic for hours and noticed how many empty seats there are for every driver on the road?

This observation is exactly what prompted Oakland-resident Stephen Cataldo to found SpaceShare, the green carpool, rideshare, and travel hub for conferences and festivals around the country. Operating from the simple goal to have “less cars. more community,” SpaceShare provides access for various festival and conference-goers to connect with fellow greenies or music lovers while saving on gas and reducing pollution.

Stephen Cataldo rightly observes that “People travel to festivals and conferences to connect. Yet their travels are often uncoordinated, lonely and expensive.” And this is exactly what SpaceShare seeks to address by giving people a digital space to meet, connect, and arrange for rideshares to their favorite events.

I first found out about SpaceShare while looking for a ride to last year’s SolFest. Living in the Bay Area, I am lucky enough to rely on my bike and public transit for all of my transportation needs… That is, until I need to get to the latest green event outside of public transport limits!

Finding my ride through SpaceShare couldn’t have been easier and more fun. Through the rideshare link provided on the Solfest website, I entered a quick blurb about myself and the dates/place I needed a ride for, then scoured the list of drivers leaving from the Bay Area who were offering space in their car. The people I eventually found for the 3-hour trip up to SolFest were some of coolest, funniest, greenest people I’ve met out here. In fact, they’ve since become some of my closest friends. If you’re interested in learning more about SpaceShare’s latest activities, or to get involved, please visit www.spaceshare.com.