A startup aiming to ease the pain of planning carpooling is looking for University of Victoria students to participate in testing their new app.

According to COREO chief executive officer Malcolm Adams, UVic has some of the highest rates of solo drivers, with about 45 per cent of people who attend UVic B´ÎÔª¹ÙÍøÍøÖ·“ students and faculty B´ÎÔª¹ÙÍøÍøÖ·“ driving solo to school and work.

"We've heard the stories of people spending 20 minutes trying to find a parking space," he said. "Carpooling is really the last low-hanging fruit, but universities don't know how to implement it."

Adams explained that the company aims to cut costs and promote sustainability through making carpooling easier for the average commuter.

The COREO app would pair drivers with riders living nearby days before the trip, and it would split the cost with the passengers. The app is based on similar products that have worked with large companies like Google and Facebook that can have thousands of employees working at individual campuses.

"It's not nearly a sort of 'stranger danger' vibe because they're your fellow students living in a neighbourhood, we want these people to become your good friends going forward," said Adams.

"Think of Langford and these other areas around Victoria. We've got urban sprawl because of vehicles. We can't solve that with dollars in transit because we don't have the population density to actually afford that transit. The most underutilized asset we actually have in transportation right now is actually vehicles."

The trial is expected to go through the spring, where around 50 students will be given the opportunity to test the app, and be compensated for doing so.

"It's a pioneering effort. It's not something that COREO is doing for money at this stage. Everybody here gets a chance to help shape the company," said Adams, adding that they especially want to hear from students in the West Shore, who typically have to deal with long rush-hour commutes to and from school.

Those looking to participate in the trials, or looking for more information, can do so at .