Original Item: Only One Available. Carpooling first became prominent in the United States as a rationing tactic during World War II. Ridesharing began during World War II through “car clubs” or “car-sharing clubs”. The US Office of Civilian Defense asked neighborhood councils to encourage four workers to share a ride in one car to conserve rubber for the war effort. It also created a ride sharing program called the Car Sharing Club Exchange and Self-Dispatching System. Carpooling returned in the mid-1970s due to the 1973 oil crisis and the 1979 energy crisis. At that time the first employee vanpools were organized at Chrysler and 3M.

This sign was hand-painted and put out by the Ohio War Transportation Committee to be posted on roadways to encourage ridesharing during WWII. The sign was painted on a type of hardboard (engineered wood product) known as Masonite.

In 1924, William H. Mason, engineer, inventor and apprentice of Thomas A. Edison, developed an innovative method for turning vast amounts of waste wood into useful products. By applying heat, steam and pressure to wood fiber, Mason created a type of hardboard known as Masonite that has since become an enduring material in the building products industry.

The text featured on the sign:

SHARE
THE RIDE
Registration
DEPOT

OHIO
WAR TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE

The sign is in good condition but does have a crack in the top right corner. Due to the fragile nature of these signs, not too many survived so to find one in condition such as this is great!

Comes more than ready for display.