Today - for my last post - I want to look at how mobility might be influenced by collaborative consumption and the new sharing economy. Undoubtedly, there is growing popularity for competing services offered by individuals to individuals.
I personally often car pool to different locations with friends to reap the economic, lifestyle and environmental benefits. And I know of my time living abroad, a car pooling or sharing service would have been invaluable. Like most foreigners, I am very mobile while living overseas, but not in a position to buy a car and carry the expenses (like parking or insurance).
Car sharing is extremely popular in Germany. In Berlin alone, home to about a fifth of Germany’s 15,400 shared cars, vehicle density decreased slightly last year, where the number of cars per 1,000 residents fell to 491 from 493, according to the Federal Motor Vehicle Office. There are two types of choices available to users, with many of the large car companies getting involved also. One service connects passengers to drivers, through an app, to share a ride to a mutual destination. They leave from different points depending on the location of the driver. The other is for users to log in, locate the closest available vehicle, wave a membership card, and drive off. These have designated spots throughout the city and users usually drive themselves. Insurance, fuel and parking are all taken car of.
Carsharing is definitely a useful mobility service from an ecological point of view as well as from an economical one. Only by a combination of all modes will we be able to provide mobility for everyone in the future. The key challenge will be for company's to maximise their lean growth while still demonstrating responsible corporate citizenship.
I personally often car pool to different locations with friends to reap the economic, lifestyle and environmental benefits. And I know of my time living abroad, a car pooling or sharing service would have been invaluable. Like most foreigners, I am very mobile while living overseas, but not in a position to buy a car and carry the expenses (like parking or insurance).
Car sharing is extremely popular in Germany. In Berlin alone, home to about a fifth of Germany’s 15,400 shared cars, vehicle density decreased slightly last year, where the number of cars per 1,000 residents fell to 491 from 493, according to the Federal Motor Vehicle Office. There are two types of choices available to users, with many of the large car companies getting involved also. One service connects passengers to drivers, through an app, to share a ride to a mutual destination. They leave from different points depending on the location of the driver. The other is for users to log in, locate the closest available vehicle, wave a membership card, and drive off. These have designated spots throughout the city and users usually drive themselves. Insurance, fuel and parking are all taken car of.
Carsharing is definitely a useful mobility service from an ecological point of view as well as from an economical one. Only by a combination of all modes will we be able to provide mobility for everyone in the future. The key challenge will be for company's to maximise their lean growth while still demonstrating responsible corporate citizenship.
