LAS VEGAS -- With the continuing rise in gas prices, many Valley residents are beginning to make friends to beat the pain at the pump.

The Regional Transportation Commission said there's been a small spike in the number of commuters using car pools. Their offices have been receiving more calls from law firms, casinos and other Valley businesses about carpooling information to pass on to their employees.

One of the programs offered through the RTC -- called the Club Ride -- matches drivers with carpoolers in their areas whose destinations are near one another. It’s a free service offered to residents in hopes of promoting mass transportation.

Companies can also get tax breaks for having employees use the carpool program.

The number of people using bikes is increasing as well because of gas prices, officials said. They said they have seen approximately 60,000 bikes on Valley roads this year.

While currently there are 170 miles of bike lanes and paths in the Valley, the office said it plans to expand that mileage to 800.

Through these programs, RTC officials said the office has been able to take 155,000 cars off the road.