What is car sharing and how does it work in Sydney?
The cost of owning a car in Sydney is rising each year. With traffic congestion becoming more of an issue for commuters and the growing focus towards more sustainable solutions, many Sydneysiders are choosing car share as their main method of transport.
For many city residents, owning a car is neither practical nor cost-effective. For one thing, a car takes up space which is becoming increasingly limited and expensive in the city. But unfortunately, having a car still remains the most convenient way to get around—especially if you have children or you travel long distances to work or university. This is why car share has become so widespread in popularity.
In this article we will introduce you to the concept of car sharing so you can decide whether this is a viable transport option for you.
What is car sharing?
Car sharing is similar to renting a car, however, with car sharing you are not confined to business hours, you can rent it for a few hours and only have to pay for the actual time that you’re using it rather than paying a daily fee. Car sharing is a service that allows people to find and use a car when they need it and park it in a designated space when they’re finished. This allows multiple people to drive one car.
You can easily use the service by finding a car sharing point in Sydney close to your home or work. Then it’s up to you to determine which company membership suits you best. Most companies have a minimum age requirement of 21 years to use their car sharing service.
When you find a company you would like to register a vehicle with, most will send you a card which you can use to reserve a car. You can then look for cars in your area to “rent” and reserve them by phone or on your computer. It’s a very simple process that doesn’t take a long time to complete.
The benefits of car sharing
- It’s environmentally sustainable
One car supports about 6 to 20 individuals and most companies use cars that either have low emission or that are hybrids. The less air pollution your car emits, the better it is for the environment and your fellow residents.
- It’s more cost-effective
If you don’t travel too often but you require a car occasionally, it is much cheaper per year than owning a car. You’re also covered by insurance, you don’t have to worry about sorting out registration or maintenance and you pay only for what you use. This way, it’s more economical in the long-term.
- It’s convenient
If you’re someone who relies on public transport and who walks or rides a bike most of the time, you may not have a great need for a car all the time. But there will be times when a car is the most sensible solution. If you’re moving out or have just bought new furniture, a car share can be a convenient way to transport everything you need and you can even select a car that’s the right size.
- Fewer cars on the road
The more people embrace car share in Sydney, the fewer vehicles will be on the road and the smoother the flow of traffic will be, which makes for a better experience for all drivers. Of course, as Sydney expands the population will grow with it, but car share is a unique and sustainable solution that can combat many of the problems associated with population growth.
- Access to customer support
A car that has broken down or needs urgent repairs is always going to be a costly headache for a driver who relies on it to get to work. With car share, you always have someone to call if something goes wrong and they’ll be able to sort it out for you quickly.
Car sharing in Sydney
Car sharing is quite popular in Sydney due to the fact that it prevents traffic jams and too many filled parking spaces. Car sharing in Sydney started in 2007 and in 2012 research already found that there was less traffic congestion and in total, residents saved up to 21 million Australian dollars just by using car sharing companies.
Now that you know all the benefits of car share in Sydney, there should be nothing holding you back to take the leap and start doing some research into a car share company that suits your needs.
