2012.12.22 Release

Our most recent release is now live! This release improves the way rides are negotiated between passengers and drivers. These improvements were based on user feedback to improve the ridesharing experience. You have spoken and we have delivered!

Please send us feedback on the new negotiations to let us know what you like and what you don't. We want Rootless to be the best way to connect people so they can travel together. Please send all suggestions and comments to contact@rootless.me .

Gas Shortage in NYC Area

Throughout the New York area, people are experiencing gas shortages. Lets help each other get around during these difficult times by sharing empty seats in cars and carpooling whenever a car is needed. You can use rootless.me/nyc to find a ride or to offer the empty seats in your car.

Manhattan Passenger Restrictions Have Been Lifted

Update - The minimum passenger ban into Manhattan has been lifted as of 11/2/2012 afternoon, but ridesharing will still help relieve traffic in the area. Use Rootless to help get into the city.

http://rootless.me/nyc

URGENT - NYC volunteers need transportation!

Volunteers in NYC are trying to get to troubled areas after Hurricane Sandy, but they are having a hard time getting around with public transportation suspensions, gas shortages, and traffic. Drivers, please help volunteers get around by using rootless.me/nyc to offer the extra seats in your vehicles, especially vans and other high occupancy vehicles.

Volunteers, please enter your transportation needs and Rootless will help match you with drivers.

Tweet @rootlessme with #sandyvolunteer if you have any ideas on how Rootless can continue helping with transportation.

Rootless NYC Service for People After Hurricane Sandy

Minimum passenger requirement for all vehicles entering Manhattan

As a result of the devastating aftermath of Hurricane Sandy in New York City, Mayor Bloomberg has set a minimum passenger requirement on all cars driving into Manhattan to reduce traffic congestion.

Rootless has build a special page to find a car with empty seats or to find extra passengers so you can meet the minimum passenger limit and get into Manhattan.

http://rootless.me/nyc

How it works

We are trying to make ridesharing and carpooling easy for people trying to get into Manhattan.

1. Submit your start location, end location, date, and time or your trip along with your name, email address, and optionally a phone number.
2. You will receive email updates when we find drivers and passengers along your route. We will send you information on how to get in contact with them.
3. Contact the other person by email or sms.
4. Unsubscribe from the alerts after you have found a ride or filled your car.

* The information you input above will only be shared with other riders who are potential carpool matches.

About Rootless

Rootless is a ridesharing community that helps passengers and drivers get where they want to go, together. One of our co-founders lives in Brooklyn and he has seen the transportation problems in NYC as a result of Hurricane Sandy. We wanted to help the greater New York City area get around easier during this difficult time.

2012.10.08 Release

Things have been changing here at Rootless! We have not had a full release in a month, but we have been making continuous improvements along the way. Hopefully you have liked the changes so far. Many were based directly on user feedback!

This release contains some big changes, so we thought it would be a good time to pause and update everyone on the recent enhancements. Here they are, an incomplete list of recent changes to Rootless:

• Email notifications - When someone requests a ride from you, offers you a ride, sends you a message, accepts, declines, or changes the terms of a ride, you should know about it! We now send you email notifications for all of these events so you don't miss an opportunity for a fun ridesharing experience. Of course we hate spam as much as you do, so if you would prefer not to receive these notifications you can turn them off in your profile settings page.
• Message center enhancements - Replying to a message is now an easier process. We have taken user feedback into consideration and will continue to make improvements in the message center.
• Editing ride posts - Want to change the ride offer or request you posted? Now you can.
• Events - Want to go to a music festival? Rootless wants to help you get there. Check out the festivals we are partnering with on our home page. Please send any festivals you want to attend to contact@rootless.me so we can get you there.
• Mobile improvements -  We want our site to be usable on all mobile devices. We know we aren't perfect yet. But we are improving.

Whew. I told you we have been busy. We will continue to enhance Rootless between these release announcements. As always, your feedback is greatly appreciated and helps us choose the features we add to our site. Please send all suggestions and comments to contact@rootless.me .

PRESS RELEASE - RIDESHARING COMMUNITY LAUNCHES SERVICE FOR PATRIOTS FANS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 11, 2012 

Contact: Lauren Prestifilippo
Phone: 614-499-2408

RIDESHARING COMMUNITY LAUNCHES SERVICE FOR PATRIOTS FANS

Providence, RI, September 11, 2012 − Rootless, a ridesharing community that connects drivers and passengers, has launched a service specifically for fans of the Patriots. Fans can visit www.rootless.me/patriots to be matched with others in their local areas to share rides to games.

“We keep hearing complaints from fans about how getting to the Patriots games has always been a bad experience,” said Aaron Williams, CEO and co-founder of Rootless. “We want to turn that frustrating trip into something enjoyable.”

Fans can choose either to offer seats in their own cars or request seats from others. The site includes a price negotiating system to assist in splitting the cost of gas and parking, as well as a general background profile and a rating system for each user. Users can be rated on their punctuality, friendliness, driving ability and passenger courtesy.

The Patriots’ first home game at their stadium in Foxborough, MA takes place at 1 p.m. on Sunday, September 16. They will be playing the Arizona Cardinals. 

“It is not just about saving money and easing up the amount of traffic to Foxborough,” said Williams. “It is about helping people connect with one another, and extending the tailgating experience beyond the parking lot.”

About Rootless
Rootless is a ridesharing community that connects drivers and passengers to make sharing rides easier. By freeing people from the limitations of public transportation and the cost of driving alone, they are able to enjoy the ride that is life. Rootless is headquartered in Providence, RI and funded by Betaspring, a mentorship-driven startup accelerator program. For more information or to join the Rootless community, please visit www.rootless.me.


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