Vancouver Car Sharing, FTW!

• By
• Jessica Grajczyk

Image by Flickr / velkr0

Frustrated by the costs of car ownership in Vancouver? Why not try car sharing?

You’ve likely noticed the reserved car sharing parking spots around Vancouver as you circle the block for the sixth time cursing the fact that there’s not a special parking spot reserved just for you. Maybe you’ve also felt the pinch of the costs associated with owning a car: gas, insurance, parking, repairs and so on—all expenses you wouldn’t have to worry about as a member of a car sharing program.

Economic considerations were perhaps the motivators of early car sharing systems, dating back in Europe as early as 1948 when the first car sharing organization was documented at a Zurich housing cooperative. Since then, car sharing has gained momentum as a popular alternative to ownership in major cities throughout the world, however its rising popularity is not only due to cost savings but a rising concern for reducing carbon emissions as well.
 

Car sharing to save money, hassle and the planet

Vancouver residents Sam Bomford and live-in-boyfriend Owen Philip decided they no longer needed two cars despite their busy schedules, and opted for a car sharing membership, which they found to be both an economical choice and an easy transition.

“We’ve saved over $250 a month when you consider the cost of parking, insurance and maintenance,” says Sam. “There are a variety of cars [in the car sharing fleet] and we never walk more than five minutes to get to one, even when booking last minute.”

Vancouver percussionist Chris “Pher” Gautreau found his car cooperative membership particularly convenient when he had to transport his equipment to a late-night gig.

“I had a gig for DJ Leanne in the Southwest Marine Drive area and I’d mapped a bus schedule to get out there,” he says. “Two hours before I embarked on my long trip, I realized that getting home was going to be tricky with all my gear. I did some quick research and realized using the car coop would be a better option.”

Besides saving money and hassle, car sharing is also a smart way to reduce your environmental impact. Car Sharing Canada notes that people who give up car ownership for car sharing tend to reduce their driving by as much as 50 percent, or the equivalent of 1.2 tons of carbon dioxide per person per year.

This might make car sharing more attractive to environmentally conscious folks who solely rely on public transit but find that some errands just aren’t sufficiently accommodated by bus or train capabilities and time constraints. In fact, Translink supports car sharing with dedicated parking spots reserved along transit lines for members of one popular Vancouver car sharing cooperative.
 

How car sharing works

If you’re interested in renouncing your car ownership, or supplementing your transit use, joining and participating in a car sharing organization is easy.

Most car share programs operate under the same premise: join the program, either through a membership fee or free sign-up; receive a special swipe card or key providing access to vehicles; check out your vehicle options and locations online or by phone; book the vehicle (sometimes even just 10 minutes beforehand); drive your chosen vehicle as needed within your allotted time slot; return it to the same parking spot; and receive periodic bills.

Crunching the car sharing numbers

The amount of money and carbon emissions each person saves by using a car sharing service depends on the particular needs of the individual. For example, someone who uses a car to drive around the city would have different needs than someone commuting from the suburbs, but the comparison between average car ownership costs and average car sharing costs offers a compelling case for the collective ownership model.

A report compiled by the Canadian Automobile Association (CAA) on the cost of driving a car in Canada breaks down the costs associated with owning and operating three types of vehicles based on average use (driving 18,000 kilometres per year).
 

Vehicles evaluated:

Average annual ownership costs (fixed):

Based on 18,000 km of driving per year, gas costs not included.

*Based on typical insurance coverage (i.e., a vehicle driven less than 16 km a day, to and from work, with no young driver. Note: drivers younger than 25 usually pay a higher than average premium).

**Average annual figures based on trade-in values for the three vehicle models after four years and 72,000 km.

***Based on 6.25 percent APR; 10 percent down payment and a four-year loan.

Transport Canada and Canadian car sharing organizations estimate that members pay an average of $125 per month, which, as you can see from the above calculations, is what the average car owner would spend monthly on insurance alone. View the report [PDF] for tips on how to calculate your own personal driving expenses.

Environmental benefits of car sharing extend beyond carbon emissions

The Government of Canada recognizes personal transportation as a main target for carbon emission reduction, since cars and light trucks are responsible for 12–15 percent of Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions  (GHG).

But there are other reasons car sharing is lauded as a more sustainable model than private car ownership:

> Reduction in the number of private automobiles on the road. The ratio of drivers to cars for two of the nation’s largest car sharing organizations is 20 to 1.

> Improvement of local air quality. One car share company estimates its members emit 10 times less CO2 than car owners.

> Promotion of a less car dependent community. A Quebec car sharing company reported that 48 percent of members got rid of a vehicle after joining, while an additional 21 percent were able to postpone purchasing a vehicle.

> Reduction in parking needs in urban areas. Less cars on the road means less need for parking. Eventually this could translate into increased public green space as pavement is converted into grass. The City of Vancouver allows members of one local car sharing organization to park in city permit parking, further reducing the burden on public parking.

Whichever car sharing option you choose, you could save money, reduce stress related to owning and storing a large chunk of machinery and know that you’re participating in something with broad implications for the future of our planet.

Plus, you could even have the freedom to choose your car on any given day according to your mood, your To-do list or your outfit.
 

Jessica Grajczyk is a Vancouver copywriter and co-founder of The Vegan Project, an online resource for people interested in the vegan lifestyle in Vancouver and beyond. Twitter