Dictionary Definition
slug
Noun
1 a projectile that is fired from a gun [syn:
bullet]
2 an idle slothful person [syn: sluggard]
3 any of various terrestrial gastropods having an
elongated slimy body and no external shell
Verb
1 strike heavily, especially with the fist or a
bat; "He slugged me so hard that I passed out" [syn: slog, swig]
2 be idle; exist in a changeless situation; "The
old man sat and stagnated on his porch"; "He slugged in bed all
morning" [syn: idle,
laze, stagnate] [ant: work] [also: slugging, slugged]slugging See slug
User Contributed Dictionary
English
Verb
sluggingDerived terms
Extensive Definition
Slugging, also known as casual carpooling, is the
practice of forming ad-hoc, informal carpools for purposes of
commuting, essentially
a variation of ride-share
commuting and hitchhiking. While the
practice is most common and most publicized in the congested
Washington,
D.C. area (where it is primarily used by commuters who live in
Northern
Virginia), slugging is also used in San
Francisco, Pittsburgh, and
other U.S.
cities. Sluggers gather at local businesses and at government-run
locations, albeit not always with official sanction.
Background
In order to relieve traffic volume during the morning and evening rush hours, high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes were built in many major cities to encourage carpooling and greater use of public transport. This put at a disadvantage car drivers who were unable to switch travel modes, join formal ride-sharing schemes, or informally ride-share with acquaintances, friends, or family.These circumstances led to the creation of
"slugging", a form of hitchhiking between strangers that is
beneficial to both parties: drivers are able to use the HOV lane
for a quicker trip, and passengers are able to travel for free (or
cheaper than via other modes of travel). Ride sharing occurs
ad-hoc, with no need for arrangements beforehand.
Origin of the term
The term slug (used as both a noun and a verb) came from bus drivers who had to determine if there were genuine passengers at their stop or just people wanting a free lift, in the same way that they look out for fake coins—or "slugs"—being thrown into the fare-collection box.General practices
In practice, slugging involves the creation of free, unofficial ad-hoc carpool networks, often complete with published routes and pick-up and drop-off locations. During rush hour, sluggers either drive to park and ride-like facilities, free parking lots for carpoolers, or take public transport to bus stops and metro stations with lines of sluggers. Drivers pull up to the queue for the route they will follow and either display a sign or call out the designated drop-off point they are willing to drive to and how many passengers they can take. Enough riders step forward to fill the car and the driver departs. There are a number of unofficial rules to the arrangement:- No talking unless the driver initiates conversation.
- No open windows unless all passengers approve.
- No money will ever be exchanged or requested.
- The driver has full control of the radio; passengers may not request a station or volume change.
- Drivers are not to pick up sluggers en route to or standing outside the line, a practice referred to as "body-snatching".
Websites have been created where sluggers can
post warnings about the driving habits and behaviors of particular
drivers.
See also
References
- Slugging: The Commuting Alternative for Washington, DC