The stress and expense of owning a car could be at an end for those choosing a new way of getting around: car co-ops.
Car co-ops have caught on in Europe – about 25,000 Germans and 20,000 Swiss have signed on. In the Netherlands, where the government subsidizes carsharing, about 57,000 people participate. Many people use public transportation, foot, or bicycle for most of their travels, and use a car share service when they need to lug groceries or get around at night. The largest car-sharing organizations offer touch-tone automated booking, computer-chip membership cards, and advanced vehicle-location technology.
Co-ops are now springing up in the U.S., Canada, Scandinavia and Austria. A company named CarSharing Portland, in Oregon has been in business for seven months and has 80 members. “When cost is directly tied to use, most people tend to drive less and plan their trips better,” says Maren Souders with Carsharing.
Members pay an initial refundable fee and then call anytime to reserve a car in their neighborhood. They pay only for the hours and miles driven – all insurance, gasoline and repairs are included. For those that drive under 10,000 miles a year, car sharing costs less than monthly car and insurance payments, registration fee and maintenance of a typical car.
There is even a North American CarSharing Organization. It maintains the Carsharing Network, an online resource center for North American car sharing. This is the place to find a car sharing organization in your city – or the expertise to start your own.
North American CarSharing Org:
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