To participate in a car-sharing service, people sign up to become members. “If you live downtown, there is no reason to own a car.” “It’s like a mini pick-up truck for me,” Wilmering said. But he prefers the Prius because its sips fuel, and he’s no fan of the oil industry. He has his own two-seater that he rarely drives. But he occasionally needs a car to pick people up at the airport or to haul supplies from Home Depot.
ZIPCAR FORT LAUDERDALE PROFESSIONAL
“I’m the rare breed of business professional who rides the bus.” “It’s a great concept,” said Kent Wilmering, a West Palm Beach businessman about the WeCar service in downtown West Palm Beach. Plus, South Florida residents are taking advantage of a peer-to-peer car-sharing service called RelayRides, which allows people to rent out their personal vehicles to people who need a car. It recently debuted at Palm Beach International Airport. In November, it expanded its service into Miami, offering 40 vehicles throughout the city. Zipcar, another car-sharing service that originated on college campuses, also is venturing into the region. The company has several thousand members in the area. Between March 2012 and March 2013, South Florida membership in Hertz’s car-sharing service grew 160 percent, said Paula Rivera, manager of public affairs for The Hertz Corporation. Hertz is rolling out its car-sharing service to other parts of the region, with vehicles available in Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood, Pompano Beach, Coral Springs, Boca Raton and West Palm Beach. In January 2012, Miami Beach teamed up with Hertz On Demand for a car-sharing service that put 20 vehicles in eight of the city’s parking garages. So far, 50 people have registered for the service. A Toyota Prius parked at one of the city’s parking garages is available around-the-clock for rental by residents and commuters who sign up to use it. In June 2012, West Palm Beach partnered with South Florida Commuter Services a state agency that promotes alternative transportation, to start a car-sharing service in downtown West Palm Beach. increased about 44 percent, according to the Transportation Sustainability Research Center. “Since then, it has expanded in popularity to members of college and university campuses and other users seeking to reduce their auto ownership and their dependency on a personal vehicle.”īetween July 2011 and July 2012, car-sharing membership in the U.S. “Initially, it was popular among younger, trendy, relatively educated individuals in urban locations,” said Susan Shaheen, co-director of the Transportation Sustainability Research Center at the University of California, Berkeley. In the past year, the concept has gained a foothold in South Florida.ĭriving the surge are efforts to promote alternative transportation, a growing lack of interest in car ownership among young people and a tough economy forcing some people to look for a way to get around without a car. It’s called car sharing, a concept that’s been around in the United States since the 1980s, but has been experiencing significant growth nationally since 2006. South Florida’s sprawling development and limited public transportation make owning a car pretty much a necessity.īut a growing number of services are popping up in South Florida giving people quick, cheap access to cars whether they’re lacking one of their own or need an extra set of wheels for a quick trip to Home Depot.
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