Exploring the ideas and innovations needed to create a sustainable transportation system.
Owning a car can be expensive. From car insurance payments to the escalating price of fuel, many of us don’t drive enough to justify these expenses, but still want the convenience of owning a car. For others who only use their vehicle for certain trips, their car spends more time in the driveway than it does on the road.
Last week I had the opportunity to talk with Kevin McLaughlin, president and founder of AutoShare, about the benefits of car sharing, from reduced congestion to cost savings and increased health.
On average, every member of a car sharing organization reduces their carbon footprint by as much as 1.2 tonnes of CO2 per year as a result of changes in their new lifestyle. Drivers who use car sharing networks drive 50 percent less than their car owning counterparts, and spend more time walking and cycling, increasing their personal health while saving money on car fees and maintenance costs at the same time.
In Toronto, AutoShare has a fleet of efficient rental vehicles at over 135 locations across the city, with each vehicle eliminating as many as 10 private cars from city roads.
With car ownership becoming less of a priority for today’s millennial generation, car sharing is a positive step towards reducing congestion on city streets, while increasing active transportation.
