A Draft Proposal for a Car Share Scheme for Adelaide
Joan Carlin, February 2005
Draft Proposal
That a CarShare scheme be set up in Adelaide - in the first instance in the South West corner of the city. Similar schemes operate in many European and US cities and now in Sydney and in Melbourne.
It is proposed that in Adelaide the scheme be supplemented with bicycle lockup facilities adjacent to the car park.
Summary
Car share is considered to be a way of making cars available to local residents and businesses without the need for them to own cars. It has the potential to reduce car ownership, road congestion and pollution, has benefits to the environment and increases the mobility of people using the service.
The company owns, services and fills the car with petrol, and manages the bookings which operate from a computer in the glovebox, which can be accessed from a home computer or phone. Members who join the scheme pay a monthly fee and an hourly rate to use the car. Fees charged vary according to the scheme selected. Members who use the service often, may pay up to $35 a month, and the hourly rate varies.
Members are issued with a Smart Card to get into the car and the keys are in the glovebox. It is suggested that the same Smart Card could be used for the lock-up bicycle facility.
Benefits to users
- Save on the capital and ongoing costs of owning a car that is used only two or three times a week. Costs include purchase price, registration, insurance, cleaning, servicing;
- Avoid the costs of keeping an older car in good condition;
- Manage with one not two cars;
- Choose from a range of cars eg a small car; a station wagon; perhaps a ute.
Benefits to the environment
- less cars on the road and parked
- reduced energy consumption, improved air quality
- increased viability of public transport as more people use it, having to make a deliberate choice between booking a car and taking a bus/train
- increased uptake of walking and cycling
- less dedicated garages/parking places needed for new developments.
Options
Options that could be considered for operating a car share scheme in Adelaide:
1. Use a company such as CarShare Australia operating as Newtown CarShare in Sydney and GoGet in Melbourne.
Under this scenario the company provides the vehicles and maintains them in good condition.
CarShare Australia has been constituted to allocate 50% of any profits made to an environmental trust to fund local transport initiatives. The council (or TransportSA) pays for a feasibility study (around $5000- $7000*) and the Council provides free car parking spaces and a bicycle lockup facility.
Members are issued with a Smart Card to get into the car and the keys are in the glove box. The same Smart Card could be used for the lockup bicycle facility. Car Share offers greater flexibility and more convenience than car hire for short hirings.
2. Find a local company prepared to run a scheme in Adelaide.
3. TransportSA could be approached to fund the feasibility study.
* the figure of $5-$7000 came from discussion with Bruce Jefferies one of the principals of Newtown CarShare.
Support
Urban Ecology Australia has agreed to support this proposal as has Ecocity P/L. Support from other organisations such as SACHA and BicycleSA will be sought once a clear proposal has been prepared.
Recent correspondence from the Adelaide's Lord Mayor Michael Harbison suggests that the Adelaide City Council may look at the proposal.
A CD has been produced by the Australian Greenhouse Office and the same material is on their website. The material includes the proceedings from carsharing seminars held last year in Melbourne and in Sydney. www.greenhouse.gov.au/tdm/publications/carsharing.html
This website gives a number of other websites and references from around the world.
Conclusion
We'd like to hear from anyone interested in using a car share scheme in Adelaide, and also from any of our members in other states who are already participating in, or considering taking part in, a car share scheme.
2007.2.8