Car-sharing program may come to L.A.

There's an intriguing item on the agenda today for the Los Angeles City Council's Transportation Committee: The city is considering handing over a few parking spaces near UCLA and USC to the car-sharing firm Zipcar.

The firm already has rental cars available -- cars are kept in various locations, such as parking garages -- so the issue here is whether the city wants to make the program more visible by allowing some cars to have street locations.

Zipcar rents cars by the hour. The idea is that people who live nearby can easily access a car when they need one without all the hassles and expense of car ownership. Zipcar's website shows that cars rent from $9 an hour to $77 for an all-day rental on a Mini. Other cars are $66 for the day.

The big argument for a car-sharing program is that it is a good way to help more people take mass transit because it allows them to have a car when they most need it. The rest of the time they can get around by walking, cycling or public transport. It seems like an idea that could catch on here as the area continues to grow denser -- it's basically a rental car firm spread out to more locations.

-- Steve Hymon

Photo: Zipcar

Comments

[Charles Dougherty]

Zipcar pulled out of L.A. in February 2008, without telling its members until afterwards, and stranding hundreds of people who had given up a car to use its service. The sudden evacuation violated the public trust. Given Zipcar's unethical treatment of its customers in L.A., why should we now feel good about giving this for-profit company free public space?

[Dana Gabbard]

Flexcar had cars in various parts of the L.A. and San Diego central districts. Then after it merged with Zipcar they pulled back to only serving areas around campuses--much to the annoyance of many who had come to rely on it to run errands, etc. w/o having to own a car. I think the idea is this may encourage them to expend beyond the current narrow area they serve...