France: Carpooling for Healthcare Workers

Locations:

Plaisir (France)

Noirmoutier-en-l'Île (France)

Mont-de-Marsan (France)

Dinslaken (Germany)

Versailles (France)

Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie (France)

Paris (France)

Saint-Denis (France)

La Roche-sur-Yon (France)

Montereau (France)

Fontainebleau (France)

Machecoul-Saint-Même (France)

Fontenay-le-Comte (France)

Challans (France)

Cholet (France)

Bonn (Germany)

Les Sables-d'Olonne (France)

Challenge area:

Pollution Reduction

Implementation period:

Started

Supported by: EIT Urban Mobility

The Challenge

Hospitals, often located in urban areas, face problems with shifting hours, stressed staff and limited parking places. Many people have no choice but to drive to work, which is expensive for European households: on average €6,000 per year. All of this adds financial burdens for health care workers who do not necessarily always earn high salaries. For example, nurses earn a median salary of €31,493 in gross purchasing power parity (PPP) according to European Datalab in 2018. In addition, public transport may not be sufficient for hospital employees, especially when working late shifts or when their homes are far away. The aim is to provide a more flexible and reliable transport solution that meets the unique needs of hospital carers, particularly those who commute from remote locations. This is where carpooling makes sense. This solution should alleviate the financial and ecological constraints of car ownership while ensuring accessibility for all employees. By offering a cost-effective and convenient alternative, we aim to improve the well-being and work-life balance of hospital staff. This will enhance their ability to provide high quality care. By recognising the transport problems faced by healthcare staff and developing tailored solutions, we can create a supportive environment that benefits both employees and patients.

 

 

The Solution

Carpooling with Karos Mobility presents an innovative solution to address the transportation needs and challenges faced by hospital employees. Indeed by carpooling, significant savings can be achieved, with an average of €97 per person per month. Some frequent users have even managed to save over €10k by regularly using our apps. Carpooling offers a more flexible and reliable transportation option, as only one driver is needed and becomes an effective solution during strikes, which is indeed why APHP implemented Karos solution in 2019. When two employees carpool together, it means one less car on the roads and in parking lots, resulting in reduced congestion and parking saturation. Therefore carpooling also contributes to a reduction in pollution by optimizing the number of cars in circulation. Through Karos Mobility, we have already saved over 13,600 tons of CO2 emissions, equivalent to over 7,770 round trips between Paris and New York. In addition to these practical benefits, carpooling fosters social interactions. It provides an opportunity to meet colleagues and individuals from diverse professional backgrounds, promoting team building and creating enjoyable moments through shared music and conversations. Finally, Carpooling with Karos Mobility offers a reliable and advantageous solution, delivering financial savings, reduced congestion, decreased pollution, and opportunities for enriching social encounters.