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The only downside to this is fewer jobs in the auto industry. From a personal finance, environmental, and urban planning perspective this is a very positive direction.
Cars usually seat 5 people... Math sounds fuzzy...
Yes at one time that is true. This service is usually targeted at urban dwellers who don't need to use a car on a daily basis and get to work via foot, bike, transit or teleworking. If a group of 32 people each need a car once a week and the car gets shared 4 or 5 times a day the math does work.
Yes at one time that is true. This service is usually targeted at urban dwellers who don't need to use a car on a daily basis and get to work via foot, bike, transit or teleworking.
Even though I consider myself a car guy and still like to drive (increasingly less so though every year because of the traffic and hassle) I find myself intrigued by the concept of car sharing. It has taken hold in my city with Car2Go, electric Smart cars and I live in a service area where I see them fairly frequently. Our nieces and their friends who live right downtown use it all the time and even the neighbor across the street who has two nice cars joined up and uses it occasionally.
If you just need to drive a couple of miles and park it near downtown it's cheaper and more convenient than using your own car (free parking) and can be cheaper and far more convenient than the bus. If you drive it more like a regular commute it can get pricey I think and if you get out of downtown they tend to get more scarce. Still, I like my options, the next car that dies in this household may end up one more lost sale for the auto companies as we consider it. Although my work requires me now to make a short commute, when I was working from home my car was growing cobwebs and if that happens again I can see just getting rid of the car.
Location: East of Seattle since 1992, 615' Elevation, Zone 8b - originally from SF Bay Area
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This works best for people like friends of ours, with only one older car and two drivers. Most of the time both can bus to work, but in the case of an appointment one can take the car, and if the other has something come up there are always zip/car2go located near work. Having no car and depending on them is iffy, there may not be any nearby at a given time.
I haven't looked at the details of them, but if I took one to a grocery store a few miles away and then someone else takes while I'm inside, I'm kinda screwed when I try to go home? Walk or cab it? Is that how the program works? I see them all the time in Minneapolis.
I haven't looked at the details of them, but if I took one to a grocery store a few miles away and then someone else takes while I'm inside, I'm kinda screwed when I try to go home? Walk or cab it? Is that how the program works? I see them all the time in Minneapolis.
You'd have the keys with you & their little computer system would show them you're still paying for it, so they wouldn't be able to take it.
I always thought that companies like Zipcar are for people that have no intention of buying a car in the first place and only need the service for random trips?
if 1 million people use zip car and all had no intention of owning a car... how are there any lost car sales?
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