"Slugging" In San Francisco

We began our long trip on the Bay Bridge, only we did it with two extra passengers, two complete strangers.

We were "slugging," a kind of commuting that's more popular than ever, given the record rise in gas prices. It's unusual (some would even say dangerous), but it can save money — sluggers don't pay for gas — and a lot of time.

Here's how slugging works: A driver who needs more passengers so he or she can get into the HOV lane (high occupancy vehicle lane) pulls up to a spot where slugs congregate. By now the system is well organized. There are designated pick-up and drop-off points, no matter what bridge you need to get across here in San Francisco. No money is exchanged because both people get something out of the deal. The slug needs a ride. The driver needs two extra bodies, so he or she can use the much faster, less-congested HOV lane, which requires at least three passengers per car.

The passenger in my front seat was Jason Mendrey, a great guy who helped explain the system. He said when he tells friends what he does every morning, they often think he's crazy. After all, Mendrey explains, "Ultimately what this comes down to is casual hitchhiking."

He certainly has stories to tell, like the time his driver one day was pretending to conduct an orchestra from the front seat. But for the most part, it's pretty routine — and effective. Casual carpoolers have formed their own community. Many have become friends. There are even rules of etiquette. Passengers aren't supposed to speak to drivers unless spoken to. The radio, if it's on at all, is supposed to be tuned to a classical music station, or NPR.

I'm told the name "slug" first came from bus drivers. It's the title they gave to riders who used fake coins, or "slugs," to get a free ride. "Slugging," also called "casual carpooling," has been around in one form or another since the early 1970's, first in Washington, D.C., but it has long since spread to other parts of the country. And, as we discovered this morning, it works pretty well!

Up next, we're off to Lake Tahoe, and then Elko, Nevada, the "cowboy poetry" capital of the world.