Since I don’t drive, I really appreciate ways to mooch rides from the suckers who do.  An article in the New York Times talks about two apps that might just help me get around if I hadn’t given Brendan my iPhone to trade up to an Android G1.

The first one, a little bit of overkill if you ask me, was designed by an Irish company called Avego.  From the looks of it, people who are willing to share rides have to drive around with their phones on the dashboard, and an online interface allows people who need a lift to find vehicles close-by, even if they don’t have a phone themselves.  Neat idea, but at 30 cents a mile, the business model strikes me as, well, un-American.

The Avego rules clearly state “Radios, if on, play jazz, classical music or “mild” news. Avoid talk radio.” That seems a little strict to me, I don’t know of any taxis that have that rule.

The other services seems to have developed a little more traction in San Francisco.  Even if their website kind of sucks, Carticipate looks like it has the advantage over Avego because of it’s simplicity: instead of having to remember to have your phone on all the time, you post, Craigslist-style, what you’ve got and search for what you need.  Plus, it’s free.

Has anyone out their used either of these apps?  A penny (or 30 cents) for your thoughts.