Imagine having access to dozens of cars parked in your neighborhood. There'd be hybrid cars for ordinary errands and vans for hauling a crowd or a piece of furniture. All of them would be owned and maintained by someone else. You'd just have to pay a fee based on the number of hours and miles you drove.
In cities like Portland, Denver, and Boston, this dream is becoming a reality. A fleet of "community cars" allows for households to get by without a car or maybe one instead of two.
Most participants in the community car program still walk, ride a bike, or use public transportation to do errands. But they're happy to know there's a car in the neighborhood when the need arises.
Community cars are "kind of magical," says one member. "You notice a headlight's
out, so you write a note, and when you come back next time it's been fixed.
Or you go pick up a car after a huge snowstorm and somebody has already
scraped the windows and shoveled out the space. It's not just really convenient—it
also gives you a real sense of community."
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Success Stories
