Ithaca Carshare news updates

APA:The New Planner - Fall 2009

With the onset of high oil prices, climate change, and the return of dense neighborhood development, a new piece of the transportation puzzle is finally fitting into place. Car sharing - a cheaper and greener alternative to private automobile ownership - is allowing more and more people either to give up their cars or forgo buying new ones. Car sharing allows members to reserve a well-maintained, fuel-efficient vehicle for only the time they need it, paying just an hourly rate and a mileage fee.

Car Sharing History
The first modern car sharing organization (CSO) formed in Switzerland more than 20 years ago. In 1987, two co-ops started independently and soon merged to create Lucerne-based Mobility Switzerland, still one of the largest CSOs in the world. With 1,150 hubs and more than 80,000 members sharing 2,250 vehicles, Mobility continues to change the way that many people travel.1

European car sharing growth has been persistent, with a current estimate of 70,000 car sharing members in Germany and 60,000 in Switzerland.2 The success of car sharing in Europe is partially due to the continent's ubiquitous bicycle culture and extensive networks of public transportation. In fact, the bicycle's share of local trips is 12 percent in Germany and 10 percent in Switzerland, more than 10 times higher than in the United States.3

The growth of American independent CSOs - which are typically established using a nonprofit or cooperative structure - has been more recent. The first large-scale CSO, CarSharing Portland, opened in Oregon in 1998 and was subsequently purchased by privately owned, for-profit Flexcar.4 Soon after, independent CSOs began to crop up across the country, appearing mostly on the East and West Coasts, with several in the Midwest.

PhillyCarShare, currently the largest independent American CSO, was founded in 2002 with only nine members and just two cars. Motivated by what they viewed as the "inappropriate cost" of automobile ownership, Philly's founders set out to reduce auto dependency citywide by providing members with 24-hour access to a fleet of well-maintained, fuel-efficient cars. Drivers are charged only for the time the cars are reserved, virtually eliminating the sunk costs associated with ownership.5

PhillyCarShare grew quickly, boasting 535 members and 13 cars after just 12 months. Within two years, the organization had reached financial self-sufficiency and successfully negotiated a contract with the City of Philadelphia to replace its 330-car municipal fleet, setting a precedent for CSOs across the country. PhillyCarShare now serves more than 30,000 members, and hybrid vehicles make up more than 50 percent of the organization's fleet.6

Another independent CSO known for its innovation is City CarShare, an eight-year-old nonprofit based in San Francisco that serves 12,000 members throughout the Bay Area.7 One of City CarShare's more recent claims to fame was a 2007 award from the National Organization on Disability providing partial funding for AccessMobile, America's first wheelchair-accessible car sharing van.8 Because using AccessMobile is typically cheaper than a taxi and more convenient than waiting for para-transit, many people with disabilities have opted to take advantage of this service.

Sharing in the Queen City
Inspired by the success of CSOs all over the world and the need for another transportation option in the city of Buffalo, a few University at Buffalo students (including this author) set out during the summer of 2008 to create a car sharing program in the city best known to outsiders for its chicken wings and cold weather.

We spent countless hours that summer conducting market research, forging partnerships, writing a business plan, and applying for grants. Our excitement at the thought of car sharing right here in Buffalo was expressed through our presentations and presence at events and festivals. More importantly, the idea was well received by local community leaders and the State of New York. In April 2009 we received a grant from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority and New York Department of Transportation, setting Buffalo CarShare (BCS) on its way to a summer 2009 launch.

In June 2009, BCS was "fully rolling" with four fuel-efficient Toyotas. Assisted by the grant and support from a local bank, the organization grew steadily in members and vehicles. By September 2009, BCS had more than 100 drivers sharing seven cars. With an office in the heart of Buffalo's Allentown neighborhood, situated across the street from a subway station, BCS has been exceptionally well received by the community and continues to grow in members by the day.

For more information on Buffalo CarShare, visit www.BuffaloCarShare.org.

Why Share?
Besides the fact that your parents always told you to share, there are many good reasons to share a car. While owning an automobile may not seem expensive every time you jump in your car and turn the key, there are many fixed costs associated with ownership that drivers usually don't think about. Consider this: AAA estimates that the average American driver spends nearly $5,000 a year on fixed costs alone, even before any miles are driven.9 A figure like $5,000 makes those of us who don't drive very often wonder why we pay for a car, even when it's parked.

Car sharing allows those who occasionally need to drive the opportunity to pay for a car when and only when they need it. Fixed costs are essentially eliminated, freeing drivers from the financial burdens associated with insurance, maintenance, and gas. The variable cost structure - "variable" in the sense that the price drivers pay is proportionate to the time and distance the car is driven - has worked phenomenally well, saving car sharing members thousands of dollars a year.

A first-year survey conducted by CarSharing Portland discovered that members saved an estimated $154 each month on transportation costs. PhillyCarShare found similar results, with members claiming an average savings of $2,059 over the course of a year.10

Car sharing won't just save you bucks - it will also help to save the environment. Because car sharing is designed for those who are able to walk, bike, or take public transit to most of their destinations, many car sharing members report driving less than they had before joining a CSO. A survey conducted by the Transportation Research Board of the National Academies found that 27.5 percent of respondents reported an overall decrease of more than 50 percent in their vehicle miles traveled (VMT) after joining a CSO.11 Decreases in VMT ultimately result in decreases in air pollution, leaving us with a healthier planet.

Reserve. Get In. Drive.
Thanks to today's technologies, sharing a car is as easy as getting online. Most CSOs use online reservation systems that are linked to in-car hardware. The hardware, which is activated by an assigned key fob, tracks what time the car doors are locked and unlocked, how many miles are driven, and where the reserved vehicle is located.

Most members begin by going online, choosing the preferred vehicle, and selecting the necessary reservation length. While reservations may be made well in advance, many CSOs have noticed that most of their bookings come in just a short time before the reserved time. BCS has found that during the month of August 2009, more than half of all reservations were made less than two hours before the reserved time.

After making a reservation, car sharing members simply walk, bike, or use public transit to get to the car, swipe their assigned fob, and hop in.

So what are you waiting for? Get out there and start sharing!

Adam Blair is pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree in environmental design with a minor in sociology at the University at Buffalo and expects to graduate in the spring of 2010. After graduation, he plans on attending graduate school to earn a dual degree in urban planning and public policy. Blair is a co-founding research associate with Buffalo CarShare and has also worked as a student assistant with the Urban Design Project, a university center committed to the research and practice of urban design.


Carshare gets county award- Sept. 6, 2009
From the Ithaca Journal

The Tompkins County Environmental Management Council has named Ithaca Carshare the recipient of the EMC's first Transportation Initiative of the Year Award.

"Recognition by a council that represents the countywide community is a great reward because it indicates we're living up to our aspirations -- to provide a viable service that is bigger than any one institution or group, and is an integral part of how folks from all walks of life get around," said Carshare Executive Director Jennifer Dotson.

"The strength of Ithaca Carshare as an organization comes from the able leadership of Jennifer Dotson, and the diversity of our board, which has representation from Tompkins County's MPO, the City of Ithaca, EcoVillage, Ithaca College and Cornell University," said Carshare Board of Directors Chairman David Lieb.

Ithaca Carshare
in the news

The Ithaca Journal, "Students Fuel Carsharing Concept" (link)

IC View, "Taking It to the Streets: Ithaca Carshare" (link)

The Ithaca Journal, "Tompkins group recognizes 82 ‘Signs of Sustainability'" (PDF)

The Cornell Daily Sun, "As Gas Prices Rise, C.U. Works to Limit Consumption of Fuel" by Christopher Kim (PDF)

The Ithacan, "Ithaca Carshare offers sustainable transportation" by Aly Dixon (PDF)

East Hill Notes, "New Transportation Initiatives" by Gary Stewart (Link and Video)

Syracuse Post-Standard, August 12, 2008, "Car-sharing program to launch in Syracuse" (mentions Ithaca Carshare) by Tim Knauss (PDF)

Cornell Daily Sun, August 11, 2008, "Carshare Program Fosters Sustainable Transportation in Ithaca" by Alex Berg (PDF)

Ithaca Journal, July 21, 2008. "Mom gains fitness with pedal vehicle" (mentions Ithaca Carshare) by Linda Stout (PDF)

Cornell Alumni Magazine, July 14, 2008: "Baby You Can Drive My Car"

Hartwick.edu News, July 9, 2008: "Alum Helps Make Roads a Little Greener" by Jennifer Moritz (link)

Ithaca College Intercom, June 27, 2008: “Ithaca Carshare now available on campus” by Marian Brown (PDF)

Ithaca Journal, June 26, 2008: “Ithaca Carshare starts its engines” by Linda Stout (PDF)

Cornell Chronicle, June 26, 2008: "Cornell-supported Ithaca Carshare provides vehicles for pickup at your nearest 'pod'" by Franklin Crawford (PDF)

WSTM NBC3 Central New York, June 25, 2008: "Ithaca's 'Car Share' program” by Kristen Drew (PDF, link with video)

News 10 Now Syracuse, June 25, 2008: "Ithaca Car share program begins” by Allison Lazarz (PDF, link with video)

WTVH Syracuse, June 25, 2008: "Ithaca Carshare" (PDF, link with video)

WENY Elmira, June 25, 2008: "'Car Share' Hits Streets of Ithaca" by Ted Fioraliso (link with video)
 

WSYR News Channel 9 Syracuse, June 24, 2008: "Ithaca Car Sharing Program Launched 6/25/08" by Tanja Babich (link with video)

Boston Globe, June 24, 2008: "Upstate NY program offers car sharing" (PDF)

CNN Money, June 24, 2008: "Upstate NY program offers carsharing" (PDF)

Forbes, June 24, 2008: "Upstate NY program offers car sharing" (PDF)

Newsday, June 24, 2008: "Ithaca program offers way for residents to share cars" (PDF)

Ithaca Journal, June 24, 2008: "Ithaca Carshare vehicles available for use Wednesday" (PDF)

Syracuse Post Standard, June 21, 2008: "Sharing the ride" by Rebecca James (PDF)

Ithaca Times, November 14, 2007: "Yellow Light - Corporate merger puts brakes on Ithaca Carshare program" Journal news staff (PDF)

Ithaca Journal, November 12, 2007: "Follow file - Carshare in works despite national merger" Journal news staff (PDF)

Ithaca Journal, January 5, 2007: “Carsharing: An idea that deserves an opportunity” by Journal editorial staff (PDF)

Tompkins Weekly, December 18-24, 2006: “Car share effort gets jump start” by Danielle Klock (PDF)

Ithaca Community News, December 12, 2006: “Ithaca car share wins grants” by Elizabeth Bauchner (PDF)

Lansing Star, December 8, 2006: “Ithaca Carshare receives start-up funding” (PDF)