So it’s official! Denver now houses two cars in the Capital Hill neighborhood that are part of the non-profit car sharing network eGo. Karen Worminghouse has worked tirelessly to get the organization up and running and I am very excited about it! As a car-less member of Denver, I will generally stick to public transit and alternative means for most of my trips. But for the occasion out to Target or some other far-flung place, I look forward to the convenience of automobile travel without the hassle of ownership (insurance, parking, maintenance, etc).
I originally come from the Philadelphia area, living in the city for 3 years before moving to Denver. This is where I got my first exposure to a wonderful carsharing service, Philly CarShare. Also a non-profit, Philly CarShare built up an identity very quickly to the point that it became cool to be a member. In a world of for-profit competitors (like ZipCar, which acquired FlexCar in 2005), Philly CarShare was able to establish themselves very quickly. The service grew from a handful of cars and 9 members in 2002 to over 400 cars and 40,000 members in 2008.
The non-profit carsharing model seems to work really well, especially if a strong local or regional identity can be developed around it. Philly CarShare captures perfectly why they’re run as a non-profit:
We view decreasing auto use as a social benefit, not as a threat to the bottom line. Our pay-as-you-go pricing encourages choice, rather than commitment to driving. Our Philadelphia headquarters and nonprofit status mean all the benefits stay here; no revenues get siphoned to distant investors. Our commitment to make car sharing accessible means we offer totally free memberships, eligibility to 19-year-olds, and a debit billing system that enables even the lowest-income households to join. PhillyCarShare is committed to serving every neighborhood of Philadelphia. We’re excited to make our city less about cars and more about people.
Philly CarShare works because they consistently and effectively communicate the benefits of carsharing. I believe eGo can reap the same benefits of being a home-grown non-profit bent on creating a social benefit for members and non-members alike.
I can hear the dissenters though saying, “This is Denver! Not New York or Philadelphia. We love our cars here.” Of course you do. But believe it or not, they love them in Philadelphia too. People carshare for very different reasons. Some for the environment, some for economics, and others because its trendy (think Whole Foods). And even for those who don’t, there is a great benefit. Studies show that carsharing can lead to a decrease in car ownership. In one study of carsharing impacts, car purchases were delayed or avoided by 12 to 68% of carsharing members (for US based organizations). A mature program can take anywhere from 6 to 25 cars off the road per carsharing vehicle. In Philadelphia, 2100 cars were removed from the streets in 2006 by members along with a host of other environmental benefits. No matter what you think about regional air quality and other “lofty” environmental goals (which I care about), most can buy into easier on-street parking.
Look out for more cars in the future including a handful in the Platte River Valley area of Denver.
Tags: carshare, denver, nonprofit, transportation