Carsharing allows people to rent cars on a short-term
(hourly or daily), as-needed basis, paying only for the time they use the car
and the mileage they drive. The operators of the carsharing program provide
vehicle maintenance, repair, and insurance.
The term “shared-use vehicle” is a broader concept that
encompasses both carsharing and station car programs. Station car programs are designed to
facilitate transit access in the cases where the final destination of a person
who uses public transportation is located too far away from the endpoint of the
transit route; people can drive station cars to complete the final leg of their
trip.
Shared-use vehicles allow individuals to gain the benefits
of using a private car without the costs and responsibilities of owning a
car. Members of a shared-use vehicle or
carsharing program pick-up and return vehicles at shared use lots that are scattered
throughout a particular region or concentrated at a transit station, activity
or employment center. Typically, a
member makes a reservation in advance, lets him or herself into the vehicle
with a personal card or key, and drives away.
When the person is done using the car, she returns the car to its home
parking space, locks it, and leaves it for the next carsharer.
The benefits of carsharing can include:
·
More careful consideration of the necessity,
duration, and distance of automobile trips, resulting in decreased vehicle use
and ownership.
·
Greater consideration given to alternative
modes, resulting in increased transit ridership, biking, and walking.
·
Cost savings to individuals and employers.
·
Energy savings and air quality benefits.
·
Reduced parking demand at participating transit
stations, member employer sites, and residential locations.
Due to its many potential benefits, carsharing is gaining in
popularity, as demonstrated by increasing North American membership.
·
As of January 2008, 18 U.S. carsharing programs claimed 234,483 members sharing 5,261 vehicles.
· As of January 2008, 33,895 members shared 1,499 vehicles among 13
carsharing organizations in Canada.
Innovative Mobility Research (IMR) is an internationally
recognized leader in shared-use vehicle research, particularly in testing and
evaluating innovative shared-use vehicle services and in tracking trends.