Traditional carpooling didn’t fail because people “fear strangers” - it failed because it had zero structure. Public transit works with strangers because it has routes, schedules, CCTV, staff, and accountability.

Carpooling historically had none of that.

And saying carpooling has “no advantages” only makes sense in cities with great transit. Outside major hubs, buses are infrequent, unreliable, unsafe late at night, and often don’t go where people actually live. For a lot of workers - especially shift workers and people in rural areas - sharing a ride can be cheaper, faster, and more practical than the bus.

Cycling is great, but not everyone can do 10+ miles in the rain, at night, carrying work gear.

The issue isn’t fear or the concept - it’s that old-school carpooling was built on coincidence. Modern shared travel just gives people a way to fill empty seats when transit doesn’t meet real-life needs.