CarSharing is aiming its services at inner-city residents who mainly rely on bikes, buses and walking to get around, but occasionally want access to an automobile. CarSharing says it has an option for people weary of car insurance premiums, repair bills and other costs of auto ownership. While the car sharing industry has thrived in Germany, Switzerland and Canada for years, CarSharing Portland is pioneering the idea here. Brook says it's possible, especially for people driving fewer than 10,000 miles a year, because car sharing figures to cost less than owning a car for most people. In exchange, they are issued a key that opens cars stored at four parking lots in the Portland area.
Clients simply reserve a vehicle by phone and then retrieve the vehicle at the designated time.
Their worries about car insurance premiums, rising gas prices and repair bills are over, Brook said. After being in business for six months, CarSharing Portland has 51 clients and six leased vehicles. Brook, the sole owner and a part-time energy specialist with the Oregon State University extension service, said at the current growth rate he intends to add about two cars a month. It will need about 200 clients and at least a dozen cars to begin showing a profit, Martin said. Transportation officials in Seattle have recently discussed setting up a car sharing program there.