Covoit’run, the app helping runners share rides to races
Launched in March 2025, Covoit’run helps runners and race organisers make carpooling easier, with the aim of reducing the carbon footprint of running events.
Carpooling is nothing new, but applying it to the running world is. The idea came to Bruno Menard, a 53-year-old from Angers and a dedicated runner, while he was carpooling himself. “I’ve been running with a club for 17 years, and I’ve also been a coach for seven years with the Saint-Barthélemy d’Anjou club in Maine-et-Loire.” Alongside his work in sales, he decided to pursue a project close to his heart, one that would offer a useful service for runners.
Easing congestion at race venues
“After Covid, races grew exponentially. I started running surveys and noticed that between 60 and 70% of people were driving alone to races,” says Bruno Ménard, who sees Covoit’run as a way to bring that figure down. At venues hosting running events, the sheer number of vehicles can create serious parking problems, particularly in places that were never designed to handle such traffic.
The amateur runner took out a €25,000 loan and invested €15,000 of his own money to set up Covoit’sports, the company behind the app. It has been live since 1 March 2025, and he is still working to convince runners and organisers to use it. Everything has been designed to make it easier for runners to connect. Every race in mainland and overseas France is listed, with the details of each individual event and race. After creating a free account in just a few minutes, drivers and passengers can offer or choose a route. The app’s algorithm calculates the round-trip distance. “It also factors in fuel costs, which we update every two weeks using the average price in France,” explains the founder, who is working on the project with his son Axel. “The driver enters the vehicle’s fuel consumption, and that allows us to calculate the cost per seat.” At a marathon with several races, participants in the same event can share the journey there and back. It is more practical and better suited to the needs of those who take part in these events.
Since the app was launched, around 20 journeys have been completed and 650 runners have signed up to the platform. Covoit’run currently operates on a small commission taken from booked seats, but the project is still being run on a voluntary basis.
Adding more features
As races everywhere look for ways to improve their carbon footprint, Covoit’run is a smart initiative that aims to reduce the use of private cars in favour of shared transport. “It’s a real opportunity for organisers to limit the number of people driving alone,” says Covoit’run’s creator, who already works with the Marathon La Rochelle Serge-Vigot, the Grand Raid Camargue and the Ultra Trail du Grand Colombier.
To keep the app attractive and bring more organisations on board, Bruno Ménard is continuing to develop new features. “For example, it’s possible to carpool exclusively with women,” he explains. The app already includes a messaging service, and within the next few months it will add filters allowing users to carpool with athletes of a similar level, so they can set off at the same time once the race is over. It is a comprehensive app that aims to become a genuine asset for runners.
With Covoit’run, Bruno Ménard is offering a practical answer to an issue that is often overlooked when races are organised: participant mobility. By making it easier for runners to share rides and adding features designed around their comfort and safety, the app aims to become an essential tool for running events. As environmental responsibility moves to the centre of the conversation, this local but ambitious initiative could prove to be a key driver in making running more sustainable.