cvskates

Short Version of this post: I bought this bike rack: Free2Go - The Bike Rack For The Smart (Video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fyms3-sH0dQ) for use with Car2Go, and I really like it.

Long Version: Six weeks ago I sold my truck and became a full time bike commuter. I had been commuting to work and getting around the city almost exclusively by bike for several months since moving to our new city. As a bit of insurance, I became a car2go member. I'm blessed with both my home and my work place being in the Car2Go home area, and my workplace is a terminus of sorts, so there is always a large number of cars available.

My commute is 19km (12 miles) each way, and about 90% highway. I'm happy to bike through the rainy season, but there are instances when I'd rather not be on the highway on my bicycle. When I work a night shift I finish at 11:45, and one some nights training keeps me late until close to 1 AM. From the time I leave for work until I get home those days are 13 hours. It's nice to skip the bike ride and be home quicker, especially on Friday and Saturday nights (when there are more crazies on the road).

The bike rack itself is super light. It takes up about 1/3 of an Ortelieb Bike Packer Pannier. I envision carrying it with me most of the time, but I could also leave it at work, since I will likely be using it to get home more than getting to work.

Installation is relatively quick; last night was the first time I used the bike rack, and it took me 8 minutes to install. I'm sure once I've done it a couple times I could get it down to 1/2 that time.

One of the attractive features of this bike rack for me was that you could get your bike 80% secured, then unlock the car2go and start your car2go trip . This will reduce the cost of the trip, since you pay for parked time as well as moving time. No sense in paying the $0.41 per minute to install the bike rack if you can do it before beginning your trip. You can also do the same thing at your trip end, undo the strap going under the cars back window, then lock the car and end your trip. Then you can take your time removing your bike.

With the bike on the stirrups and the straps done up the bike was very secure, it had virtually no movement when I tried to push the bike around to check it was tied down.

It's a pretty elegant solution to carrying a bike on a smart car, and it's going to make my car-lite life a lot easier.

I'm not affiliated with the product at all, I just found it while searching for a solution to carrying a bike on car2go. If you've look at this rack and wondered, I can confirm: it works great!

tjspiel

It's a great idea but at least as of last year attaching a bike rack to a car2Go could get your membership suspended.

Car2go and bikes are a great compliment to each other and the car2go people seemed to have figure that out. They piloted having bike racks on their cars in Portland last December which I guess went really well. Hopefully they'll roll it out soon there and in other cities.

CrankyOne

I'd never noticed the screw-ins on the Smart rear bumper. Great use of them.

debit

I looked at that rack and was very tempted, but didn't want to risk my membership. I ended up with a folding bike (Tern Link D8) that fits in the back storage area. It's an okay compromise, but I would have much preferred being able to have a full size bike. Fingers crossed the Car2go people will change their policy.

cvskates

I know that I've read before about the policy prohibiting the use of bike racks, and have never been able to find it on the actual Vancouver Car2Go website.

I figured I wouldn't likely have any problems because of the time of day I typically use Car2Go with a bike, and because the rack doesn't in anyway damage the car.

ShortLegCyclist

'Free2go' bike rack has promise - but will get you kicked off Car2go - BikePortland.org

CrankyOne

My guess is that they'll not go out of their way to enforce the policy and I wouldn't be surprised if they looked the other way as best they can. They understand the PR issue this could be. If you damage a car or get in a crash with the rack on then you might see a different response.

cvskates

I have seen this, but it's literally the only place I've seen the no-bike-racks rule. I checked the terms and conditions and FAQ on the Car2Go Vancouver site but couldn't find any restriction against bike racks. Having said that, I'm operating on the assumption there could be a restriction, and am prepared to plead my case (or ignorance ) if it becomes an issue.

lostarchitect 

Aparently it falls under 10.2 (o) in the agreement:

Quote:

10.2 The Member shall not:
...
o) personally perform or authorize repairs or any conversions on or to the vehicle;

https://www.car2go.com/common/data/l...conditions.pdf

tjspiel

They might be backing away from it. I'm pretty sure I saw a FAQ last year that specifically mentioned bike racks but that's not there any more. The reason I remember it is that they recommended removing the wheel(s) and putting it in the back. The cars are surprisingly roomy inside but I don't think many bikes are going to fit without leaving the hatch open, - wheels off or not.

Leisesturm

Every Car2Go I've seen since moving to Portland has had a bike rack attached (none with bikes, 8mo. of observation). Portland bikers ride their bikes, they do not car top them. In the suburbs its a different deal. Most bikes are car topped and few are seen in traffic. Should you be in a Car2Go service area that presently sends cars out without racks... my motto in such situations: "better to ask forgiveness than to seek permission...

tjspiel

Apparently racks were one of the more requested "features" in Portland and elsewhere. I can see it really making a difference for those that want to go car free or car lite. There's been many times I've driven to work because I had to pick someone up in the afternoon on the way home.

Even if I plan to take a trip by car because of distance and a tight schedule, it can be a little tricky with car2go. Though you can usually find one close by, it's not always the case. Being able to ride to the car and have the bike with you is a little extra insurance.

Darth Lefty 

What an interestingly specific product. I wonder how big the market is, especially since it only takes one bike on what is ostensibly a 4-seat car. But having a portable bike rack in your pannier to put your bike on any car seems like a great idea for people using ZipCar or the like.

Darth Lefty 

Putting a bike rack on a car share, even if it doesn't get used, might have the same marketing effect as selling salads at McDonalds. I could have had a salad at McDonald's, therefore going to McDonald is ok, therefore this cheeseburger I'm eating is healthy.

tjspiel

The difference is that regardless of whether you rationalize that the cheeseburger is good for you or not, it's cheap. Car2go isn't unless you end up using it less than 10 hours a month and that it allows you to own one less car than you otherwise would.

I'm not sure how it compares to Uber for the same trips.

CrankyOne

That depends on where you live and how expensive gas, insurance, and parking is (and if you have to move your car every 48 hours). I'd guess the average user is also less than 10 hrs. I think my son averages about 5 hrs per month with the rest bikeshare and subway.

ShortLegCyclist

It's not a four seat car, though.

In fact, it's also a violation of terms of use to have any more than one passenger in there with you.

tjspiel

Oh, I think there are plenty of people for whom it makes good sense economically, - college students in particular. My point was that if you're attracted to Car2go as a supplement to traveling by bike, but in reality end up using it instead of your bike, you will quickly be turned off to Car2go once you get that first bill.

Let's take commuting for example. The average American has a 26 minute commute. That's pretty close to what mine is actually and for most of the year the difference between riding and driving is only a few minutes. Anyway, that's well over 10 hours a month just for commuting, let alone any other trips you might take.

For a college student that lives on campus, having a car there is often a huge and expensive headache. A bike and a service like Car2go are a great combination.

lostarchitect 

I don't think they're targeting people who will use the cars to commute, they're targeting people who need to take an occasional trip. I live in NYC and didn't have a car until this year when I was given a free used car. Prior to that, on the rare occasion I needed a car I'd get a Zipcar. I'd use it for things like buying furniture at Ikea, big grocery runs, etc. I would use a car less than once a month for a couple hours. This would be the same market Car2Go is targeting, I think.

Edit: I missed your point. =) Yeah, you're right.

Leisesturm

You had me going there for a minute. I mean... it is a two seater car. One passenger is the default by design. I used to regularly get three adults in my 280Z back in the day, A child could fit in the rear deck area easily. Must have done that at least a couple of times as well. The cabin of a 280Z is cavernous in comparison to the SmartCar, widthwise at least. Headroom was a tad lacking. Anyway, the no more than one passenger thing, that is one company stipulation that it would probably be wise to heed. I don't know about the Free2Go rack but the racks that are supplied with Portland's Car2's do hold two bikes.

Leisesturm

Much as I like services like ZipCar and Car2Go they just don't make sense to me. Until recently I was renting from a suburban Enterprise Rent A Car and their daily rate was about the same as ZipCars. No annual fee. They come and pick you up and take you to the rental office (I usually rode there on my folder which I would throw in the trunk). The really big money saver was declining the optional (but recommended) insurance packages. It is hard ignoring all the dire warnings about running without 3rd party insurance but twice I have been involved in accidents with Enterprise Cars and both times since the accidents were not in any way shape or form, my fault. The other drivers insurance paid 100% of Enterprises claim. Since moving to the city I've been buying the insurance ($20/dy) and there is also a 20% tax on rental cars that doesn't apply in the burbs. This makes rental cars something I will only do if someone is sick (pets count) or dying. Car2Go and ZipCar don't fix that. I don't know about anyone else but an hours rental of a car for $10 just isn't practical. You eat half of that just in travel. Two hours, and you are hitting close to what Enterprise rents an economy sedan (off season) for an entire day! The pricing models for these short term rental services needs a lot of work. Cell phones and Dial-Up Internet services had to go through the same learning curve. I'm not sure what is taking so long though. ZipCar has been around for awhile but they are still hanging on the annual subscription, $10/hr. price point tooth and nail.

H

lostarchitect 

Zipcar includes gas and insurance in your fee, though.

CrankyOne

The service and pricing model is designed for short local trips not day long journeys. By the time you call Enterprise, they pick you up, fill out paperwork, review the car, and you pull out of their lot, I can have already grabbed a C2G, driven to Whole Foods, shopped, loaded stuff in another C2G, and be home.

cvskates

So, just to throw it out there:

My commute by Car2Go varies from 16 minutes to 18 minutes. That means the one way cost is $8.37, and the daily round trip is $16.74 (were I inclined to drive both ways).

Based on the 180 days a year I work, my annual cost to drive Car2Go in both directions would be $3013.20. My annual fuel and insurance cost for the truck I recently sold was $3388. Never mind depreciation, parking, tires, oil changes, incidental repairs, interest, or anything else, just the cost of fuel and insurance more than cover me taking car2go to work every single day I work.

If we use the 28 minute average commute mentioned earlier, the annual cost of driving Car2Go in both directions goes up to $4716. If we assume you work a more conventional M-F job 50 weeks a year, that's $6550. Your math will vary, but my annual cost of ownership was $9694 if we included everything but parking and interest. Still $3000 a year cheaper for Car2go.

My short point said long is this: If you're using a vehicle almost primarily for commuting, and you can get past the emotional component of vehicle ownership, and it's feasible to use Car2Go, you might be surprised at the savings possible for car2go.

Please don't feel the need to defend your commuting choice - at the end of the day it's a choice, and everyone's commute, priorities, cost of ownership, and personal needs vary enormously. I'm not telling you to sell your car like I did, or bike to work, or use Car2go. I'm just saying when I did the math for my own situation, I was blown away by how much money I was wasting by owning a vehicle; I was paying more than $52 a day to get to work - and [I feel] that's just silly.

tjspiel

The annual cost to own a small sedan was $6,729 last year. That's driving 15,000 miles annually and assuming you buy a new car every 5 years. That small sedan would most likely be bigger and be more pleasant to drive than a Car2go. This is according to AAA.

Of course if you drive fewer miles, buy a reliable used car, pay cash for it, and keep it longer than 5 years, your costs can be much lower than that. And you can take the car anywhere you want. We have two cars, one 13 years old and the other is 9 years old.

Again, I'm not knocking Car2go. I think it's great as supplemental transportation. As a main form of transportation, - even if it's just to work, I think there are less expensive options including owning your own vehicle. But yeah situations vary. I can avoid paying for parking most of the time if I was willing to walk a little bit and my insurance costs aren't high. But since I bike a lot of the time, having 2 cars wouldn't make much sense if it were just my wife and I. Once we're empty nesters, cycling and car2go will likely replace one of our vehicles.