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An article on car sharing in Edinburgh University's graduate magazine, Edit, has prompted a letter from reader Andrew Bairden. Now in California, he has found local companies have had little success in encouraging employees to car pool, often because of personality clashes.

Mr Bairden was one of a foursome who took turns driving to work, the first of whom was always late, a smoker and left winger. The second was punctual, but drove like a maniac, and was an extreme right-winger with strong religious views who allowed no one to smoke. The third member was a smoker from one of the southern states who was prejudiced against minorities. "Being a Scotsman from Glasgow, I was the only normal one."