Car Sharing 101

First launched in European cities in the mid 1980s, car sharing is rapidly catching on in Canada. According to John MacSween, General Manager of Zipcar Vancouver, the popularity of car sharing has soared alongside gas prices. But, he says, “we are also seeing car sharing grow as the global economy continues to slowdown. There is also a newfound awareness from businesses and organizations on the benefits.” Read on to learn exactly how car sharing works, how much it costs and the ways it offers a model for making transportation environmentally sustainable.

Car-sharing basics
Once they’ve paid a membership fee, members can use any of the shared cars stationed around the city in specially designated parking spots. For example, Communauto, a car-sharing service in Montreal, has 225 cars at various pick-up points in the greater Montreal area. Members simply go online or call to book a car by the hour. Depending on the car-sharing program’s fee structure, they pay a flat hourly fee or two separate fees for time and for distance. Hourly costs hover around $10 and cover insurance, gas, roadside assistance, vehicle maintenance and cleaning. Frequent users can choose membership packages that further reduce these fees.

Save a bundle
Car sharing can help you avoid spending big cash on travel. Autoshare based in Toronto, claims that car sharing is the most cost-effective transportation option for people who drive fewer than 12,000 kilometres (km) per year and don't need to drive to work everyday. Not convinced it’s truly cheaper? Check out the Canadian Automobile Association (CAA) Driving Costs Brochure which breaks down the costs on owning and operating a vehicle. Once you factor in the cost of a monthly lease or loan, yearly licensing and registration (and don’t forget maintenance—that oil won’t change itself), the average cost of a small car is $6,462 per year for someone who drives an average of 18,000 km. This breaks down to $17.70 per day.
In the face of these numbers, car sharing seems like a no-brainer. But it does have some downsides. Most cars are clustered in the downtown core, and longer trips make for a costly adventure when you are on the clock and paying per kilometre. This means that car sharing is an ideal service for people running errands around the city, but not for weekending at the cottage. Corporate and not-for-profit packages offer a great chance for an organization to have a company car available for meetings and deliveries, without the full commitment of a parking space or ownership.

Cut your carbon
Can car sharing actually help us reach our national goal of reducing total carbon emissions? You bet. The Auto+Bus Project is a recent Canadian study that looked at the potential of car sharing to reduce a person’s carbon dioxide (CO2) output. It showed that car sharing adds up to big emissions reductions: in comparison to car ownership, it reduced a person’s CO2 by more than 1 tonne; and, each shared car was found to replace at least 8 individual cars on the road.

The study also revealed that car sharing fosters a greater dedication to, and awareness about, lifestyle changes that reduce the total emissions of greenhouse gases, traffic congestion, and air and water-borne pollution. For example, car-sharing members were found to approach travelling shorter distances differently, choosing to bike or walk to nearby destinations. They also travelled about 2900 km less per person per year.

Plenty of perks
Picky about the car you drive? Zipcar Toronto, for example, offers BMWs and Mini Coopers when you need to cruise in style and cargo vans when you’re looking for space over style. Many companies also count fuel-efficient vehicles, such as the Toyota Prius and hybrid Honda Civic, among their fleets.

Car sharing is also being touted as an innovative solution to residential parking shortages. Out west, car sharing co-ops in Edmonton and Calgary point out that it provides reliable access to cars in high density areas, which are often pressed for parking. And members of the Co-Operative Auto Network in Vancouver enjoy free parking in any permit zone!

In the neighbourhood
Car sharing is available in most Canadian cities. Visit carsharing.ca and click “city list” to find a local service.