Zipcar is Changing The Way People Drive

A new car sharing service is catching in cities across the country.

A new service that is being offered in large cities across the country is changing the way that people drive. Zipcar, a new car sharing company is making waves, and making driving more affordable for people who had previously been at the mercy of public transportation.

With fuel prices soaring and unemployment on the rise, many people who live in larger cities are finding the cost of car ownership to be a little out of their reach. In cities with great public transportation, this isn't such a problem. However, there are times when it is more convenient to be able to use a car, for example when you are looking for a job and have several job interviews or when you have several errands that involve carrying large packages. This is where car sharing services can really save a lot of money.

How it works is that people can join Zipcar by paying a small yearly fee (around $75) and then they have access to all of the zipcars in their area. In larger cities, there are cars scattered every couple of blocks. The cars can range from compacts, hybrids and even SUVs. When someone needs to use a car, they simply locate a car near them that suits their needs and make a reservation via a computer or an app on a smart phone. From there, people simply pick up the car and then return it when they are done.

The cars are available for a small hourly rate or, if needed, there is a daily rate as well. All of the insurance, taxes and even gas is paid for by Zipcar. All their members have to do is find a car and get going.

Not only is this type of carsharing easy to use, it also is good for the environment. For people who don't do a lot of driving, it is a sound alternative to buying a car. In fact, one year after Zipcar was introduced in Baltimore, a study showed that people were owning fewer cars, using public transportation more frequently. Although it seems as though car sharing would make driving more accessible to people who would normally take a bus, it is actually encouraging people to get rid of their cars and look for other means of transportation.

For example, when I lived in Baltimore a few years ago, I thought about selling my car because I didn't really drive that much and between the subway, light rail and bus, taking public transportation was often easier than dealing with traffic and parking. The reason I didn't is because I worried that there might be situations where I really needed a car, and then I would be out of luck. If this service had been available then, I probably would have made the leap, knowing that I had an option for those occasional times when public transit wasn't going to cut it.

According to the survey in Baltimore:

Although Zipcar isn't neccesarily a better choice than renting a car for long trips, it can make living in the city a whole lot easier. Also, they accept member that are younger than 25, without an additional charge, unlike most car rental companies.

Have you considered getting rid of your car and going with a car sharing service? Do you think service like Zipcar area good idea? Let me know in the comments.

By Melissa Kennedy- Melissa is a 9 year blog veteran and a freelance writer for ManhattanJobsBlog. Along with helping others find the job of their dreams, she enjoys computer geekery, raising a teenager, supporting her local library, writing about herself in the third person and working on her next novel.