City Car Club

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City Car Club
City Car Club Logo
Foundation:	1998
Headquarters:	Huddersfield, UK
Industry:	Sustainable Transport
Website:	www.citycarclub.co.uk

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City Car Club is one of the leading carshare operators in the UK. Established in 2000 and with over 350 vehicles^[1], it is the oldest but not the largest Car Club operating at national scale in the country. Operating a range of vehicles including Honda Civic hybrid cars, it uses the now standard technologies of online booking and smartcards access to the cars. Billed as "The thinking person's car", the company has received mixed press reviews as the computerised booking and access control system sometimes malfunctions ^[2]. Its activities receive the broad support of academics in the field of sustainable development, many of whom view car clubs as an important part of the transport mix in a sustainable city ^[3]. Relying upon support from local authorities, City Car Club works in partnership with communities, attempting to supplement existing public transport infrastructure and act as an alternative to conventional car ownership.

1 Origins
2 Membership
3 Locations
4 See also
5 References
6 External links

[edit] Origins

City Car Club Honda Civic Hybrid in London. Car sharing and car clubs have been a popular choice of motorists in Central Europe since the late 1990s, most prominently in Switzerland where the organisation Mobility has more than 58,000 members ^[4]. Influenced by this and other organisations, City Car Club was established in 2000 in London and Edinburgh and now operates in twelve towns and cities around the UK (see ‘Locations’). City Car Club has invested over £1M in hybrid vehicles.^[5]

It is estimated that the average British car owner spends between £3000 and £4000 per annum on tax, maintenance and other costs ^[6]; and government initiatives such as the UK Commission for Integrated Transport, as well as NGOs including Transport 2000, have cited car club membership as a valid way of reducing car ownership and the resulting congestion and pollution problems ^[7].

City Car Club works in co-operation with local government.

[edit] Membership

Upon joining, members are issued with a 'smart card' (or Oyster Card in London), user name, and four-digit PIN. They can then log on to the Car Club Website to browse vehicle locations and book vehicles. Alternatively members may call the club's helpline to book for a small fee. Members can extend their booking while it is under way using the on-board computer, provided the vehicle is available for the time specified. When the fuel gauge reaches 1/4, members are asked to fill the tank using the fuel card supplied in an information folder with each vehicle.