Car Sharing - no more need to own your own car.

In the United States and in the United Kingdom, car sharing services are becoming more and more available. While recently in London, I discovered, quite by accident, another ZipCar lot.



Here in the Bay Area ZipCar Flex Car and City Car Share have been common place for years. While Zip Car and Flex Car have many locations around the country, City Car Share is a bay area car sharing service. In other cities like Philadelphia, you have Philly Car Share, Boulder has CarShare.org and Austin has Austin Car Share.

Having grown up in Los Angeles, with its less than perfect public transportation service, I can easily see how many of us need to own our own vehicle in order to get to work, grocery shop and generally just get to where you gotta be. But for those of us who just use a car from time to time this is an excellent alternative to help out the environment. How does this help out? It reduces the overall need for more cars. Less cars needed, less cars need to be made. Further, you can pick and choose the car you want or need each and every time you use the service. Moving? Get a van. Driving on a trip? Get something very fuel efficient like a hybrid.

If you are hanging on to your car because you need it on weekends, then stop. If you live in an area serviced by one of these companies, then use them. If not, I bet there is a car rental service around. Right? Sell or donate your car, start walking more and when the need arises, use one of the car sharing services that are popping up all around us.

Thanks!