High gas prices have people getting creative. NBC25 came across a program that’s growing in popularity.
Read more: Local, State, Economy, Community
It’s getting back to basics, but with a twist. MICHIVAN is a van poll service based out of the Detroit area, but with services all across the state, including Mid-Michigan. It’s helping as many as 15 people at a time get to their jobs on a daily basis.
The company leases out vans to volunteers who assemble groups of 5 to 15 people who have to drive long distances. Each person pays as little as $45 a month, which covers the maintenance of vans as well as the tax, title and lease of it. However, the volunteer driver is exempt from the monthly fee. Also, the group splits the cost of fuel, which can help each person save hundreds a month, depending on actual gas prices.
We caught up with one volunteer driver from Swartz Creek, Julia Kishnick. Everyone in her group works in Lansing. She says the program’s popularity is uncanny. "When the prices start going up, people start calling and we've already seen an increase in phone calls. In fact, I've received one today."
Julia’s group is only one example of the 250 around the state, that’s how many vehicles have been assigned to this program.
One more note, MICHIVAN has a contact with M-Dot which helps to share some of the costs, keeping expenses even lower for riders.
