I used to live in an area in Portland, OR (which has great mass transit I might add) that had CARSHARING/FLEXCAR. I could go anywhere I wanted to anytime I want in a brand new (hybrid, minivan or pick up truck) and I never paid over $150. a month. Those were the days. We need to make this program available in all major cities nationally.

FLEXCAR... SHIFT YOUR THINKING

Need wheels?

Why buy when you can borrow? Flexcar is the nation's largest and oldest provider of car-sharing programs. We give our members the key to new cars, trucks, and minivans located across a metropolitan region. You pay an hourly rate, and Flexcar pays for the car, insurance, gas and a reserved parking spot! Get where you need to go, with Flexcar.
http://www.flexcar.com/

Why is Car Sharing great for my City?

Transportation is the life-blood of any economy. And yet, our fast-growing urban centres are faced with increasingly clogged arteries.

Car Sharing is the "missing link" in our urban transportation systems. The biggest determinant to vehicle use is vehicle ownership. Car Sharing helps people kick the car-owning habit, without going cold turkey, and with the financial reward of saving money.

Car Sharing should be an important option in every major urban centre. While not a magic bullet to solve all traffic and air quality problems, especially commuter-related issues, it is an important new tool that can deliver real benefits quickly from primarily market-based capital.

Some Stats
1 shared car replaces 6+ individually owned cars
Members giving up a car when they join - 15%
Members not buying a new one because they joined - 25%

Car Sharing increases transit usage:
AutoShare Stats:
Members using Transit MORE - 27%
Members using Transit LESS - 7%
S.Shaheen @ UC Berkley Stats:
Trips made by transit Before joining - 35%
Trips made by transit AFTER joining - 53%

Car Sharing increases other forms of travel:
Members biking/blading MORE - 25%
Members biking/blading LESS - 8%

People drive less
Swiss Energy Dept. 2000 stats:
Ave. driving reduction, former Car owner - 72%
Ave. driving reduction, all car sharing members - 55%+

Misc. Stats
The average N.A. car is driven just 66 minutes a day
Household income spent on cars:
1998 - 14.8%
1990 - 13.2%
# cars made-but-NOT-SOLD in 1998:..... 20,000,000
# people who could share these unsold cars:... 300,000,000

http://www.carsharing.net/ :good: