| Car-sharing has come to New Jersey,
and transit is a big reason why. Zipcar,
the largest car sharing company in North America, has
recently set up locations in Hoboken, Jersey City, New
Brunswick, and Princeton, each of which serves as a
public transportation hub. Flexcar
is another national car-sharing program based primarily
on the West Coast and in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan
area.
| Zipcar
offers self-service, on-demand cars by the hour
or day. Rates start at $8–9 per hour and
$60 per day, and include numerous benefits, such
as unlimited gas fill-ups, a guaranteed parking
space at pickup location, maintenance and insurance.
The process is simple: Zipcar members
reserve a vehicle of their choice, then pick it
up at one of several convenient locations. All
fees are automatically deducted from a credit
card on file.
The service provides several
important financial, environmental, and community
impacts. According to Zipcar, 43 percent
of members owned a vehicle within the last five
years, but only 11 percent continued to own a
car after becoming members. In addition, members
reported a substantial drop in driving, from an
average of 5,295 miles per year prior to joining
Zipcar to just 369 miles per year since
becoming members. The program has enabled members
to save an average of $435 per month when compared
to car ownership. By driving less, car-sharers
help reduce congestion, vehicle emissions, and
fuel consumption.
|
Typical Zipcar Rental
Source: www.zipcar.com
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Zipcar chooses sites based
on several criteria, including population density, parking,
traffic, and community interest in transportation alternatives.
In addition, Zipcar recognizes the need for
a well-developed public transportation system, as most
members use the service to supplement the existing
transit network in their area. For this reason, many
vehicles are located at or near public transportation
hubs.
This is indeed the case in New Jersey,
as all four Zipcar sites are located within
easy walking distance of local transit stations. The
mayors of Hoboken and Princeton reached out to Zipcar
to help alleviate parking and congestion challenges
they were facing. In New Brunswick, the Zipcar
pick-up/drop-off spot is located within one block of
the NJ TRANSIT train station on the Northeast Corridor
line. This location has proven very successful, as it
allows Rutgers University students to get rid of their
vehicles and carpool only when needed to supermarkets,
shopping malls, laundromats, or other regional “day-trip”
destinations. To date, 23 other universities around
the country have set up service with Zipcar.
Perhaps the most important impact of
car-sharing is its ability to change driving and personal
behavior patterns. Having to walk a block or pay for
a vehicle by the hour or day changes the way one thinks
about personal vehicles. As a result, Zipcar
members are more likely to be frequent users of public
transit, with members reporting a 14 percent increase
in their public transit trips. In addition, since joining
Zipcar, members report a 10 percent increase
in bicycling trips, and a 26 percent increase in walking
trips. Zipcar estimates it alone has taken
nearly 20,000 vehicles off the road.
Car-sharing programs like Zipcar
and Flexcar are important additions to the
TOD landscape. The design of many New Jersey municipalities
requires commuters and other public transit riders to
walk long distances or get dropped off at stations.
Additionally, some destinations are relatively inaccessible
by rail. By providing this convenient car-sharing option
within walking distance of transit stations, municipalities
help commuters and local residents expand their travel
options.
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