It's a raw deal you just got to swallow. Well, not everywhere. In a handful of communities around the world, a clutch of environmentalists and tightwads are finding that they don't have to own a car to drive one. These auto pioneers are part of a growing movement called car sharing. Begun in Europe a decade ago, car-sharing grants members access to a fleet of vehicles at minimal cost and minimal hassle.
Members pay only for the hours and the miles they drive.
The idea has caught on in cities in Germany, Switzerland, the Netherlands and Canada, attracting some 15,000 subscribers to more than 200 car-sharing programs. It has recently arrived on our own shores. Today it boasts well over 100 members and a fleet of nine vehicles, located at a handful of neighborhoods throughout the city. Here's how it works. First, you join a car-sharing organization.