Car sharing and clubs
The term 'car sharing' refers to two or more people travelling
together by car for all or part of a trip. One of the people
travelling is usually the owner of the vehicle and the
other passengers usually make a contribution towards fuel
costs.
Car sharing may be formal, via an organised car share scheme, or
informal, for example friends or colleagues travelling to work
together.
The best developed schemes are targeted at the daily commute.
Such schemes may operate within a single organisation or
across a number of different employers in the same area. Car
sharing can also operate for parents taking children to and from
school or as one-off schemes related to specific events.
Companies may introduce schemes and promote them to their staff,
for example as part of a workplace travel plan, to address parking
restrictions or help employees to reduce their travel costs.
A car club gives people the choice of a fleet of vehicles parked
in their neighbourhood and gives them access to a car whenever they
need it but without the high fixed costs of individual car
ownership.
Car club members are able to mix and match their travel, using a
car when that is the best option but travelling by public transport
or cycling or walking at other times.
A number of commercial car clubs now operate around the country
in addition to smaller, community-based social enterprise
clubs.
The total annual cost for members is usually less than that of
buying and running a car. Membership of a car club may also replace
a second car .