Virginia takes lead in car sharing
What would a car sharing program in a CoolTown be like? For a hint of the future, check out Arlington County, Virginia’s car sharing pilot program.
– There weren’t enough shared cars available, so the County provided 20 spaces that allowed car sharing companies to add that many cars.
– Car sharing spaces are often hard to find, so the county made them extremely visible, with noticable signage (see image*) in premium spots (near subway stops, town centers.)
– Commuters were less likely to try the program because of $35 membership fees, so the County waived them for commuters.
– Not many people knew about the program, so the County uses one of their nine dedicated ‘commuter evangelists’ to educate corporations and large condo/apartment residences.
In the Spring, they’ll evaluate (see entry on their evaluation here) and look to expand upon the program’s anticipated success.
*Source: Arlington County Commuter Page
Wow, that’s great that the county is so committed and so able to be flexible and creative. I’d love to see more metro governments think like that!