Suddenly, Sharing a Ride Looks Good

RANDI MITZNER watched in alarm as the cost of driving to work rose from $15 a week three years ago to $35, then $40. One day last spring, she had had enough. Ms. Mitzner, a senior director of human resources at Education and Assistance Corporation in Hempstead, popped the question to her co-worker Charlene Middleton: Want to drive in together?

Now, four mornings a week, Ms. Middleton, a benefits manager, leaves her tidy brick-and-shingle cape in South Farmingdale at 8:10 and drives the two miles to Ms. Mitzner


Ms. Middleton is mild; Ms. Mitzner is brassy. As the car wove through Jerusalem Avenue traffic, they fell easily into chitchat. They talked about weather and gardening (both have tomatoes), last night