My whole journey, from the lowlands of northern France through the Massif Central and down to the coast, covered over 1,100 kilometers. The total cost? EUR117 (USD$100)—far (far) cheaper than if I’d traveled by train or driven myself. For me, it was a reminder of a slower yet more spontaneous way of traveling, when the journey was as enriching as the destination.
But, as I left my final ride in Narbonne, I had to agree with my fellow carpooling passengers. Yes, BlaBlaCar is successful because it’s cheaper than public transport but it’s not always more convenient—odd pick-up and drop-off locations and a lack of control over timings mean that journeys can take longer.
But the real reason why it’s such a hit, and why I loved it, is because of the human connections. It was a reminder of a slower yet more spontaneous way of traveling, a way to see below the surface and better understand a destination and its people. As Boris says in the review that he leaves for me, “It’s precisely for these kinds of opportunities of meeting new people that I choose to share my car journeys.”
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The writer was a guest of Pas-de-Calais Tourisme, Troyes La Champagne Tourisme, Aube en Champagne Attractivité, Clermont Auvergne Volcans Office de Tourisme, Côte du Midi Office de Tourisme, Aude Tourisme, and Atout France.
