St. Louis Needs a Car Sharing Program
I’ve been enjoying my recent lack of car ownership but I am far from car-free, for example I catch rides with friends at times. This is a good thing, it forces some car pooling where we all might take single occupancy vehicles otherwise. I’ve had a meeting on the east side with a combination of my scooter, light rail, bus and walking — quite enjoyable. But I tell you, I’ve gotten soaked before and right now it is scorching hot outside. Just try to find a public drinking fountain these days.
There have been times where I wanted to go beyond where my scooter and transit would take me — not necessarily long distance but just in busy areas where transit is not convenient. For these times it would be nice to have access to a car maybe just for an hour or two. This is where car sharing (wiki) comes in the picture.
From local co-ops to national companies like Flexcar and Zipcar, car sharing is becoming increasingly popular across North America. It allows people to not own a car but have access to one those times they need it. Locally people have been working on car sharing for some time, trying to get funding to support the cars when not in use. The community benefits are great — people spend less money on car ownership so they have it for other things such as housing, food, or even entertainment. With more people owning fewer cars, less space is dedicated to the storage of cars — mostly sitting idle all day.
At right, a Toyota Corolla from Flexcar near transit in downtown San Diego.Â
I noticed when renting a pickup recently that Uhaul offers a car share service too–in other cities, of course, but the infrastructure (physical facilities) exists here already …. it seems expensive, though.
–lisa
If the region would actually PLAN real TODs, car sharing programs would be an awesome addition…what about a pilot program around the downtown neighborhood and the intermodal station?
Yeah, we only have the 1 car in the family. I would agree, there are times that a second car would be helpful, but not worth spending the extra money on one. And it’s typically because we need to be in different places. We usually get by with re-arranging schedules or planning for one of us to have lots of extra time someplace after being dropped off and waiting to be picked up.
I suspect Flexcar and/or Zipcar have probably surveyed the area and found it lacking. It would a good opportunity for a local entrepreneur to start a business, if the demand was there. Personally, I doubt that it is.
Both Flexcar and Zipcar have talked about coming into Denver – I don’t know if it’s happened or not . . . When I was in Orlando a couple of weeks ago, I saw a Zipcar or Flexcar on the freeway near Disney World with DC (as in Washington) plates . . . I wonder if they drove down? As for “expensive”, it’s all relative – if you pay for parking (live in a downtown loft), it’s a whole lot different than having “free” off-street (or even on-street) parking. And as most of us know, there are hidden costs (depreciation, maintenance, financing) on top of the cost of gas that have the IRS deduction rate above 40 cents per mile. If you need and use a car every day, it probably makes sense to own one. But if it’s a “spare” (like my wife’s and my third vehicle), it comes down to an exercise in cost versus convenience (espacially if it’s old and paid for), and right now the cost of maintenance is exceeding the convenience, so the old Jeep’s on ebay so I can get rid of it before the plates expire . . . Finally, one of our hometown companies, Enterprise, fills a niche similar to Flexcar or Zipcar, just without the cachet or the long-term commitments . . .
My work reimburses 48.5 cents per mile, so yes even universities recognize the high cost of private automobiles!
I try to avoid driving when I can, but if I have a meeting in St. Charles (like yesterday) I pretty much have to take the car. Once I tried taking the #34 Earth City bus to Corporate Woods, then walking the rest of the way into St. Charles across the Discovery (MO 370) bridge and then south along 94. Walking on that bridge was just terrifying; I thought I’d fall over the railing with the wind gusts kicked up by the passing semi-trucks.
Walking to/from the Veterans Memorial (MO 364 aka Page Ave Extension) bridge is probably much safer since there’s a separate bicycle path. However, given how far you’d have to walk on BOTH ends to get anywhere, it’s just not practical. It’s about 4 miles from the end of the #33 Dorsett-Lackland bus at Dorsett @ McKelvey, to the bridge via Dorsett and the various bike routes in Creve Couer Lake Park and alongside MO 364. Then it would be several miles up the Katy Trail to access St. Charles Main Street.
And it is both very dangerous and illegal to walk on I-70.
While St. Charles Area Transit does offer some options once you get into St. Charles, they are pretty limited, geared mostly to 65+ and low-income residents needing access to shopping, various trailer parks and housing complexes, and medical appointments. Other than the SCAT I-70 commuter route, it’s services are confined to the City of St. Charles only, and operate from 9 am to 3 pm weekdays only.
So, anyway, I’d agree we need a car sharing service here, although if it’s more costly than regular rental car service (for example, my employer has a deal with Enterprise that’s $30/day for compact cars), it might not be marketable.
Why not just rent a car — and from a locally headquartered firm at that?
I just moved from St. Louis to Urbana, IL. A good bus system here, esp. during commuting hours. Relatively small commuting distances. The extreme difficulty of parking on campus makes for little car use except shopping. But no flexcar option. If there were, I’d sell my car in a minute.
The main point is that I do not have the network of personal contacts in the new city that would allow me to share anybody else’s car. You are fortunate, Steve, to have friends and associates who will join with you in carpooling in a somewhat reliable way instead of avoiding your phone calls. As Chris Balish hints, it is a lifestyle choice to be car-free in many places — to get used to planning far in advance, factoring a number of unknown variables into one’s schedule, prioritizing one’s activities, and depending on the good will and steady habits of strangers. Not an impossible set of circumstances for many of us, but substantial
As far as renting a car goes, Enterprise does provide good service in my experience. They will indeed pick you up, though the transaction on both ends takes some time.
We at Citizens for Modern Transit have been working to get a car sharing program started for about four years. Flexcar and Zipcar are concentrating on more promising markets right now. We do hope to have something to talk about soon though. Of course, the great thing about car sharing is the pre approved internet based reservation system with card entry to the car. You never have to see or talk to anyone to get the car. The car can be picked up anytime day or not. Stay tuned.
I’m from the St. Louis area but have been living in Chicago for 3 years now, and they have a great non-profit car sharing program called iGO. It’s a one-time $75 fee, then you just reserve the car online and pay by the hour. Plus, as they expand, many of their newer cars are hybrids. I’m moving back to the St. Louis area soon, and it would be really great to see a car sharing service get started there. I love my hometown, but it has a long way to go to catch up with a progressive city like Chicago.
Will this help reverse the trend you just wrote about? “Our society has become so dependent upon the car and the old infrastructure we’ve built that we don’t seem to know how to reverse the trend.” I would be for it if we already offered environmental-friendly alternatives but we don’t have anything close to such standards here. Instituting more auto-dependency will only exacerbate the psychotic mindset.
I checked out iGo – the basic membership costs $75/year + $6/hour + 50 cents per mile + you need to reserve ahead of time. I also checked Enterprise at 1 S Broadway – for a one-day rental with unlimited mileage, they’re quoting $27.92.
So, hypothetically, if I needed to go to Trader Joe’s and Shop and Save from my downtown loft, I could probably do it in 3 hours if I hustle and the round trip mileage is what, 12 miles: Enterprise would be $27.92 + $3 for gas, for $31 (plus I’d have the luxury of having it for 24 hours). iGo would be $6 x 3 hours ($18) + $0.50 x 12 miles ($6), for $24 (and if I splurge for that 4th hour, it would be $30), plus I’d be paying $6.25 per month for the privilege of being part of the system (whether I used it or not).
I’m not picking on iGo – I’m sure their pricing is similar to Flexcar and Zipcar – but it looks like we already have a better system in place. The only two big things these alternatives provide are PC cars and the luxury of buying small bits of time. Persoannly, I’d rather plan ahead, put together my shopping list, have a vehicle for the day or the weekend, and not to worry about being back in an hour or two OR worrying if the guy or gal before me is running late. And bottom line, it’s still just a rental car – if it gets me there and back without any drama, I could care less whether it’s an Aveo or a Prius!
I’m curious about the details of these car sharing programs, such as (1) how is the insurance situation handled? (2) how is your identity confirmed, by registering in advance? (3) how often and who cleans the cars? do they get ‘nasty’ from lots of people eating fast food in a common car?
JZ, I ran the numbers with Flexcar, thinking about my actual life, and came to a different conclusion:
If I used the Everyday Errander plan ($99/month, 2 hours/day included) and drove an additional 30 hours/month @ $8/hour (this is approximately how much I currently use my car), using Flexcar costs about the same as gas, insurance, cleaning, and renting a pickup once a month (which I do almost every month) because all of these things are included in the Flexcar fee (Dole, cleaning is done on a voluntary basis, is fully reimbursable, and earns free hours. You submit an application and receive a key card that unlocks the cars.). I don’t know that it’s a reasonable substitute for owning a primary car, but for those of us who live in walkable neighborhoods with public parking lots (CWE, downtown …) it definitely would be a good option to owning a second car.
I use zipcar in NYC. Its $12-14/hr, with free mileage (up to 180 miles), gas is included, and insurance is included. So a car for 2 hours, including mileage, gas, and insurance comes out to about $26 with tax.
we have both Zip and Flex here in DC and it’s great for a supermarket or hardware store run, and they have pick-up locations at most metro stops, but anything more and you’re better off with a conventional rental.
I think it’s a great idea (car-sharing) but I have to kind of doubt it would be a huge success in STL, given factors such as lack of critical density and the (not insurmountable, but estimable) daily reliance on a car. I gave up my car 17 years ago, but if I moved back I can’t imagine living without one – sorry Joe F. you’re a stronger person than I.
I don’t object to any of the alternatives coming to market, I just prefer to bunch things together if I’m going to rent a vehicle. Every one’s life is different and there is no one “right” answer in this arena. I guess I’m spoiled having a vehicle available pretty much anytime I want it, so I see less of a need for renting for an hour or two.
The big hurdle I see out here in SW city is simple logistics – wherever a spot might be located, it would only be within walking distance of a relatively-small group of users (unlike downtown or at the destination station on Metrolink), so if I had to bike/bus/drive the mile to the Shrewsbury station, it would make a whole lot more sense to just get in my car in the driveway (and yes, pay the “prices” associated with private ownership).
I should clarify, I live a few blocks from a Metro/car-share location so it’s no big deal for me and yes, Steve is right: if I had to go somewhere out in VA or MD, I could take Metro and p/u the car there. This solution is not for every city or individual. I just don’t think it would be as popular in STL in the near future as it has been in some other cities (but let’s not get started on what changes peak oil may bring).
SLP: we’re on the same page here, I believe it eventually will be popular enough but it will take market economic realities to force that decision – when I’m back in town my relatives seem fascinated by the idea of a car-free life and I think the ones that in live in the city proper could eventually be convinced. But I also think much more interest in in-fill is required – and I was very impressed by the quantity (if not always the quality) I saw the last time.
I think these services should also look closely at small-ish college towns.
Dole: insurance is covered, the cars are cleaned, gassed-up and maintained on a regular basis. and if I remember (sorry it’s been a while) an emergency gas card is on board.
after your credit check is approved they can be reserved by phone or (recommended) internet. last time we used it there’s a key code on the door (used to also have a lock box inside for ignition).
people are generally considerate about trash – plus if you’re paying by time you’re not gonna be hanging out at the drive-thru. if you’re caught smoking you not only receive a hefty fine, but I believe lose all privilege and yeah, you’re visible enough to worry.
The denser the area the more attractive something like Flexcar becomes. If a lot of people are within walking distance of a car and/or frequent public transit, both Flexcar and transit “work” and work better. But, if one lives in a quasi-suburb like SW city, like me, I have one bus route within walking distance (2-3 blocks) that runs infrequently. I would have to make a major lifestyle change (personal car on demand, or not) to go car free. That’s why a) I hope flexcar (or a clone) can make a go of it in the loft district, and b) why I’ll continue to depend on someone like Enterprise (who “will pick me up”) if and when I need to rent a car. Bottom line, it’s a better value for me, when my time is factored into the equation. It’s also why I hope to see Transit Oriented Development (TOD) gain some traction around here – if there were more, viable, denser, living options, we would all have more choices!
Knowing that a carsharing program existed in St. Louis would allow my husband and I to switch to one car. With young children–I can do it on foot/bike/bus except in the coldest of cold and hottest of hot. Hubby’s a computer consultant, never knows where he’s heading next, needs reliable transportation. So I’m the one who would give up the car. Which is fine with me, except in extreme weather (an emergency, I could always borrow a car from a neighbor, or my mother, but I don’t want to depend on the kindness of strangers for a school pick-up in 8 degrees or 99 degrees or rain or what have you). Knowing that there was a program like this sort of thing–that would change our situation completely. I wonder how many other families would see it that way, too.
I think the idea of a “pilot” car-sharing program at some of the metro station(s) is in order. Maybe at the new I-64 station where they have covered parking. If it takes off (meaning great demand) then more cars can start poping up in other Metro stations. Perhaps eventually showing up at various empty car dealerships. Most people forget about all the space that is taken by all those big dealerships. Another example of space given over to the car!
I am so glad this topic came up again (car sharing). Sounds like there are many people interested and maybe Tom (CMT) can use their demographics (location, current car use statistics, needs analysis) etc..?
I do agree that Enterprise is a good option. Also there is the Call-A-Ride with Metro. The idea of the flex-car , igo etc.. is just plain cool because you call the shots on-line. The rest of the option make you dependant on others to “pick you up”.
Keep Cycling!
Jeff
A highly-topical article: http://archrecord.construction.com/features/critique/0708critique-1.asp
Making transit more personal? Accurate title: How lazy, dependent and obese can we make the American public? As pointed out, there are just “two” sides, (mass transit versus personal motorized mobility), and that is the crux of the problem. The best option for personal mobility is the bicycle. Combine that efficient means of transportation with light rail and the combination is unbeatable. Trouble here is that MetroLink makes the use of bikes difficult (no racks on trains, limited space, etc.) and most damaging was to prevent the building of bike paths next to the routes. Of course who can blame them as it would become apparent to all that bikes win in the comparison test every time… they couldn’t stand the result that MetroLink is an inferior product!
My car was stolen last April and I’ve since moved to the Skinker-Debaliviere area to have easy access to Metrolink. I would absolutely partake of a car sharing program. The biggest problem with renting a car from Enterprise or other such standard car rental places is that I need to be at their place when they are open to serve me. My schedule coordinated with that of Bi-State doesn’t make that a particularly convenient option.
hello……….anyone used the new We Car yet?????????? good grief……..please stay up to date.
It totally depends on where St. Louis is actually requiring that in the city itself or it could probably get by without a car. Upto my approach there are plenty of Subways and Buses that get you pretty much anywhere and it is a lot cheaper that way.
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