Fantastic results from Zipcar’s first year in Baltimore.
Looks like a significant amount of car use happens just because our car is sitting there, just outside the door, waiting to be used.
Place an obstacle in the way of getting into your car – in this case, getting oneself to where a share car is located, and suddenly people find they don’t need a car after all – they walk, bike or use public transport.
And of course, owning a car is an expensive hassle in itself…as evidenced by the fact that a fifth of Zipcar members actually sold their own cars after joining the scheme.
Hi Les, Car sharing is also having a similar impact in Australian cities. In Melbourne, for every car share vehicle 8 private cars have been sold. This doesnt include purchases foregone for those who have been able to remain car free as a result of joining a car share company. A review of car sharing in the City also revealed that car share users walked, cycled and used PT more. Interestingly, they also shopped more locally.Car sharing fills that gap in mobility for journeys that cannot be made by walking, cycling and PT. As Richard Smithers from Melbourne City Council says "…its like methadone for car drivers". CheersJonathan
<html><head></head><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; ">Hi Jonathan,<div><br></div><div>It suggests that aversive car ownership must be for many people (mainly on account of cost, I suppose). Most smokers want to quit…maybe the same applies to car owners! It’s always been assumed that people WANT to own cars…but, for many, that might not be the case. Sooo, there’s likely to be a big reserve of motivated car-quitters out there, waiting for the right innovation to come along.</div><div><br><div><div></div></div></div></body></html>