This paper was presented at the `Your car won't get you to Kyoto : urban transportation in the next century' session. Car sharing is an innovation in ownership and use of personal vehicles that is growing rapidly worldwide. Car sharing changes the economics of woning and operating a vehicle by sharing fixed costs among many users. Clients or members use public transit, walking and cycling more than before joining car sharing services. Car sharing produces many benefits to users and to society, including lower costs for users, increased mobility, reduction of per capita transportation energy consumption among users of about 50%, and more livable cities. Car sharing supports Principle #5 of TAC'S NEW VISION FOR URBAN TRANSPORTATION, namely to "Create an environment in which automobiles can play a more balanced role." The paper chronicles what is happening internationally and domestically in the growing car sharing movement, reviews the benefits of the concept, market growth potential including the opportunities for improving "Integrated Mobility", the role fo technology and comments on how car sharing can be encouraged in Canada. (A)
Abstract