The concept is occurring in Canada. The question is: Will it become a major trend? Will it be a major thing in the U.S.? Can it be the answer for people who live in large cities in order to cut down on their expenses?
One car sharing group which helps show how a car sharing program works is Car Sharing Co-operative of Edmonton, Canada. The club has 12 members and owns two cars -- a Toyota Tercel and a Mazda 626. Each is parked in a particular part of the city when available for use. People pay $400 to become a part of the co-op and a $10 access fee each month. When a member uses a car, he or she is obligated to pay $2.50 an hour and 40 cents for each kilometer. Members can book a vehicle by going on line and putting their name in a calendar. One member of the co-op said that their costs range from $80 to $250 a month when they use the car. There are no other charges and that includes insurance, gas or maintenance. It is said that an owner of a car in Canada can pay out an average of $800 per month.
Our take? Is this something that appeals to American drivers? Is the cost vs. cost comparison enough to get people to give up owning a car in order to share one? Well, it is said that this recession will lead to all of us accepting less rather than more. So it just may be that a car sharing co-op could be just what the doctor ordered for many of us during and after these troubled economic times.