From Networked Advocacy

Even Slugs Can be Good Citizens

No, not the slimy, invertebrate creatures that you find in your garden.

Slugs are a network of commuters in the Washington DC metro area, who participate in what some call “casual carpooling”.

Commuting into DC is an expensive and time consuming task. In an effort to save both time and money, slugging was created! Slugging is a unique form of commuting in which people driving into the city stop to pick up other passengers, even though they are total strangers! The benefits are mutual- once the driver picks up new passengers, s/he can use the high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes and get to work much faster. The passengers get a free ride into the city. No money is exchanged, because everyone benefits. The driver needs the riders as much as the passengers need a ride.

If it all sounds a little crazy, its not. It is actually a highly organized system with rules, etiquette and specific drop off and pickup locations.

But if you are going to join this network of slugs, you must learn how to be a good network citizen:

• Some rules are basic courtesy – don’t touch the driver’s radio, don’t have long loud conversations on your cell phone, don’t put on perfume or spray hair spray while riding with others.
• Safety determines some rules – wear your seat belt, a line (of slugs waiting for a ride) never leaves a woman standing alone, etc.
• Other rules are part of the system- do not offer or request money, gifts or tokens of appreciation, no curbside service, etc. The complete list of rules and etiquette can be found at http://www.slug-lines.com/Slugging/Etiquette.asp.

So what happens if you break the rules, you ask?

The network will find out. Like the good network that it is, sluggers communicate with each other and provide constant feedback. Routes and locations are rated (with comments) on the website. And even more revealing, sluggers share their stories with each other. Message board posts warn other sluggers about reckless drivers and rude sluggers- some warnings come complete with the make and model of the car, others are general descriptions with route information. The flow of information keeps the whole system working, and keeps those unwilling to be good network citizens, out.

And it works. Slugging has been going on since 1971.

Find out more about Slug-Lines at http://www.slug-lines.com.