With Flexcar, he can sign up for a car by the hour and is charged only for the time it takes to run his errands. The fees are based on time and mileage, with bills issued at the end of the month. Options exist, however, that lower the rates. On average, he says, he uses a Flexcar about twice a week to run errands. This early success leads Shaw to believe Flexcar will survive after start-up public subsidies are removed.
King County has a two-year agreement to partly fund the operation as it gets established.
A larger membership is advantageous for Shaw, since it means more car locations and the recent addition of a pickup truck to the 17-vehicle fleet. These are left in clearly marked parking spots in public lots, an arrangement worked out in conjunction with the city, which supports traffic-easing initiatives. As a result, Flexcar members don't have to play musical chairs searching for parking spots in the city. Besides parking, Flexcar also covers the cost of gas, insurance, maintenance, and repairs. This isn't to say members don't have some duties.