Living Car Free - car share programs

Just wanted to share this with y'all...
www.flexcar.com
www.zipcar.com

let's face it-- it's awesome to be car free but sometimes you have to go to ikea or haul a bookcase or something. These car share programs make it super easy, since they pay for parking, gas, insurance, maintenance, etc., and you just pay by the hour. There are several in my 'hood, and I probably only use 'em every other month or so, but they're nice to have when you need 'em.

The companies are both expanding quickly. If you think there's interest in your area, it's worth contacting them.

In Minneapolis, we have www.hourcar.org

I was looking in to flexcar recently, as the idea was pretty appealing to me. In the end I figured out that if I want to use one of the cars for more than 3 hours a month I might as well just keep what I have. My truck is old and paid for, and liability only insurance costs about as much as VERY light use of a flexcar. If it was about giving up a car paymetnt, or if I had something really expensive to insure, it might be a sweeter deal, but it seems like if you want a car more than a few times a year it's cheaper to just have your own beater car.

I was looking in to flexcar recently, as the idea was pretty appealing to me. In the end I figured out that if I want to use one of the cars for more than 3 hours a month I might as well just keep what I have. My truck is old and paid for, and liability only insurance costs about as much as VERY light use of a flexcar. If it was about giving up a car paymetnt, or if I had something really expensive to insure, it might be a sweeter deal, but it seems like if you want a car more than a few times a year it's cheaper to just have your own beater car.

well, that also depends on where you live and how committed you are to making cars your last resort.
I honestly use the flexcar like 2 hours ever other month. that costs me $18. there's no way you could even get gas for a car for a month at that cost, so it works well for me.

http://www.citycarshare.org/

citycarshare in the bay area, we(girlfriend & i) had just signed up but had yet to use them yet, then i read the things we carry thread and those awesome pictures posted by tfahrner-

http://todd.cleverchimp.com/bike/movepdx/

made me question whether or not i really needed the service, thus we don't have it any longer, really great company i called them up and explained my postion, they refunded our $$$, hows that for customer service in this day and age.....

well, that also depends on where you live and how committed you are to making cars your last resort.
I honestly use the flexcar like 2 hours ever other month. that costs me $18. there's no way you could even get gas for a car for a month at that cost, so it works well for me.

Well yes and no. If you are only driving a couple hours every other month, $18 will certainly get you gas for that period, heh. At the rate you drive though, it sounds like flexcar is a great fit for you.

I belong to the flexcar network.

Actually, the per hour charge includes the cost of gas and full insurance. And what's more, each time you fill the tank with gas (using their gas card, located in the glove compartment), they give you CREDIT towards your account. So it's a sweet deal. By the time I've finished paying for gas and insurance, I think I'm paying a heck of a lot more for a day rental or a regular car.

Definitely, if you need a car for more than a few hours at a time, it's probably better to search around for a day rate car with a good deal, or just drive your own car. But if you're car free and loving it, and you want an alternative for every now and then to run your errands, this is the way to go.

Koffee

The Flexcar program seems like a good option for people who are only going to use the car for a short period (4 hours or less). But if you are going to use it for an entire day, from what saw renting is cheaper. Using flexcar runs about $50/day, while renting is only about $30/day.

And Flexcar states that their car is NOT for full day use. In fact, they have a discount program through Enterpris Rent-A-Car, so if you want a car for the full day (or more), you can contact them with the codes from our program and get the discount.

Koffee

This depressses me. I wish we had something like that in Honolulu. It just goes to show me how backassward we are out here. Maybe someday...

Contact flexcar. They said they're always willing to put cars in more locations and work with the cities. With enough support, I could see them opening a branch in Honolulu. There's definitely a market.

Koffee

i rent from a downtown budget or enterprise near my house - only about $28-33 a day. less than i cab ride if i needed to go somewhere far (planned of course