CarClub

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CAPITAL’S MOTORISTS SET TO CASH IN WITH CAR CLUBS

New TFL campaign ‘drives’ car clubs to Londoners

 

Growing concern over the environmental and financial costs of running a car is leading to motorists ditching their four wheels in favour of car club membership in record numbers, according to transport charity, Carplus, who are predicting an 11 fold rise in members over the next four years.

Despite this predicted boom, a survey has found that three in four Londoners claim not to have heard of car clubs.[1]  A new campaign and website (www.carclubs.org.uk) funded by Transport for London launches today to increase awareness and demonstrate the benefits of car clubs. 

London has experienced the biggest jump in car club members in the UK.[2]  A decade ago, there were just 25 car club members in the country. Today, more than 28,000 Londoners belong to a car club, enjoying the benefits of easy, low cost access to short term hire cars.   Across the rest of the country, membership of car clubs has rocketed by more than 5,000 per cent in just five years. 

Research released to coincide with the new campaign reveals that Londoners are forking out thousands on maintaining their cars every year.  Motorists questioned estimate that they spend an average of £1,617 on car maintenance every year.[3] 

The research reveals that despite the fact that London’s car owners are investing thousands keeping their cars on the road:

• Over half of them spend less than five and a half hours driving a week

• More than half quote a lack of parking facilities as a reason for not wanting to own a car

The research also shows that it’s not just cost but carbon that is a concern for the capital’s motorists with 43 per cent of car owners saying they are worried about the environmental damage their car may cause. With evidence showing that a car club car replaces up to 20 private cars on the road in London, car clubs also offer the people the opportunity to significantly reduce their carbon footprint.

Philip Igoe, Carplus Co-director said:

“We’re urging Londoners to consider the 3 Cs today – cost, carbon and congestion – all of which can be cut by swapping car ownership for car club membership.  Our research shows that city dwellers like Londoners are most likely to spend thousands on maintaining their motors, despite their cars spending more time sitting outside their home than being driven. 

“We’re delighted that Transport for London is pioneering this campaign to help Londoners recognise that car clubs offer the convenience of a car without the stress of owning one.”

Ben Plowden, Programme Director of Smarter Travel at Transport for London said:

“Transport for London understands that there are some journeys that are most sensibly made by car. However, as the number of car club cars continues to grow in the capital, more and more people are discovering that you can have the benefits of access to a car without the environmental or financial expense of owning one.

“By funding this new campaign, we hope to encourage even more Londoners to join car clubs, which in turn will help to cut the number of cars on the road, ease pressure on parking, and reduce congestion and pollution in the capital.”

There are currently four main operators to choose cars from in the UK – City Car Club, Streetcar, WhizzGo and Zipcar.  The new TFL funded campaign will see the launch of a generic ‘car clubs’ logo and umbrella website (www.carclubs.org.uk) which will make it easier for people locate a car in their area. 

Car club bays will also be given a makeover as a result of the Department of Transport’s approval of use of the new logo on parking signs.  Carplus will be encouraging local authorities across the country to use the logo on parking signs, in order to make car club parking spaces easily recognisable on the street, and to help cut down on illegal parking by other vehicles. 

-Ends-

 

For further information or to set up interviews, please call Vicki Leverett or Lauren Goddard on 020 7260 2700 or 07795262035.  Case studies of current car club users are also available.

Notes to Editors:

• GfK NOP interviewed 1001 people aged 20 – 50 years living in the London region between the 6th – 15th February 2008. The survey took place via a telephone methodology using a quota sample. Results have been weighted to be representative

• Visit www.carclubs.org.uk for more information about car clubs

• Carplus is the national transport charity whose aim is to promote responsible car use, to maximise the benefits of cars and minimise their negative impacts

• Around one third of new club members in London either sell or defer purchasing a car when they join a car club. As a result, car mileage is reduced on average by 60 per cent, which in turn helps to reduce the environmental impact of motoring in the capital. 

 

Car Clubs Fast Facts:

• Hiring a car club car costs around £5 an hour

• Fuel is included in the hourly rate, with the majority of operators offering free mileage with each hire or no annual fee; less than the cost of a tax disc alone

• Cars can be booked either well ahead of time or with a few minutes notice

• Joining a car club takes around 48 hours and is open to anyone 21 years and over. Some car clubs now accept members aged 18 and upwards.