Many Americans have come to view that second car in the garage as not just a luxury but a necessity.
Members walk a few blocks or ride bikes to pick up their rental cars.
Unless they live in Portland, Ore., where an alternative has emerged for in-city residents who drive less than 10,000 miles a year and don't mind sharing. CarSharing Portland, a year-old company, rents cars by the hour. Portland is the first U.S. city with car sharing, a transportation option well established in Europe and available in four Canadian cities. The idea is taking hold in a handful of other U.S. communities. Seattle is set to launch its car-sharing program this year, and San Francisco and Chicago are exploring the idea.