5 September 2025 – Giving evidence to the House of Commons Transport Select Committee this week, Ali Clabburn, Founder of Liftshare and Chair of Mobilityways, warned that the UK is missing a “low-cost, high-impact solution” to congestion, emissions, and access to work: carpooling.
Clabburn highlighted that without carpooling, there would be 30% more cars on Britain’s roads today, yet government policy has left the sector unsupported while other European countries are surging ahead. France, Italy, and the Netherlands have all adopted national carpooling plans, with France investing €150 million annually to triple carpooling by 2027.
“Carpooling is a win-win: it saves people money, cuts emissions, improves access to jobs, reduces loneliness and congestion – and it can be done tomorrow, because the empty seats are already there,” said Ali Clabburn.
“Our Liftshare members save on average £1,000 a year – the equivalent of a pay rise – while cutting around a tonne of CO₂. Yet unlike buses or EVs, carpooling has no government plan, no funding, and no campaign to rebuild participation after Covid. That has to change.”
Other evidence to the committee reinforced Mobilityways’ call:
Mobilityways is urging the Department for Transport to adopt a national carpooling strategy, including:
Clabburn concluded:
“The government says it wants to cut congestion and emissions, improve access to work, and boost productivity. Carpooling delivers all of that, immediately, at minimal cost. Other countries have shown what’s possible. It’s time the UK caught up.”
Distributed by Pressat
E. team@mobilityways.comAdditional Contact(s):
Jack Goddard
