Making Car Sharing and Car Clubs Work - Case ... - The Civil Service

More documents

Recommendations

Info

MAKING CAR SHARING AND CAR CLUBS WORKCASE STUDY SUMMARIES20 A2BGeneral Background20.1 A2B Car Club is part of the A2B Smart Travel Club, a not-for-profit organisation based inBradford on Avon, which promotes sustainable travel options. It was conceived in 2001,launched in November 2002, and began operating the car club in December 2003. The clubstarted life through a Rural Bus Challenge grant, which has recently expired so theemphasis is now on sustaining the initiative as an independent enterprise. While the clubhas a good deal of local autonomy, it is managed nationally by Smart Moves. It operatesfrom a small travel advice centre in the centre of Bradford on Avon.20.2 A2B Smart Travel Club employs one full time, and one part time member of staff, whilst thecar club firstly employed 1.2 (full time equivalent) members of staff, which has reduced overtime to 1 part time member (0.6 full time equivalent) plus support from Smart Moves (HeadOffice and Bristol). During the start-up period four people were employed: a projectmanager, a marketing manager, the car club manager and assistant manager.Operating Structure20.3 Membership is open to adults from 21 years old upwards with a driving license. Althoughthere is no restriction on where people live, the cars are based in Bradford on Avon, so mostmembers live in that town, with a few in surrounding villages. The club owns three cars, twoVauxhall Corsas and one Vauxhall Astra estate, based in three parking areas, the railwaystation (pictured right) and twoneighbourhood supermarkets. Car clubusers pay a membership fee (currently£12 per month), a returnable deposit(currently £100), an hourly car hire cost(starting at £2.50 per hour, but on anescalating scale to discourage extendedhire periods), and a mileage rate (from16p per mile including fuel).20.4 Smart Moves manages the booking and billing system remotely. Members book online, overthe phone, or within the cars themselves (for the latter two methods there is a £1.20 bookingfee to cover additional administration or GSM airtime costs). They unlock cars by means of apersonal smart card, enter their PIN into the in-car computer terminal, and drive away. AMember Handbook and Member’s Contract contain details about issues such as refuelling,breakdowns, accidents, vehicle cleanliness, cancelling and extending bookings, etc.Impact and Effectiveness20.5 Since the launch of the car club, 156 people have registered an interest, 24 have trialled thescheme, and there currently 20 active members. The car club manager, Grant Pearson,keeps a log of potential members – i.e. those that have registered an interest – and usessuitable opportunities to encourage them to trial the scheme.Final V1.1, Dec. 2004 - 116 -
MAKING CAR SHARING AND CAR CLUBS WORKCASE STUDY SUMMARIES20.6 The three car club members interviewed use the car club on average around one to threetimes a month, mainly for leisure and shopping trips.20.7 The table below summarises car usage levels between January and September 2004.Car 1 (Rail station)total hirehours/minsCar 2 (Winsley Rd.)total hirehours/minsCar 3 (Budgens)total hirehours/minsJanuary 04 60.06 17 Not acquiredFebruary 04 21.37 25.35 Not acquiredMarch 04 66.57 52.46 Not acquiredApril 04 42.09 21.45 2.14May 04 24.43 14.30 0June 04 53.02 20.30 14July 04 49.22 14.36 30.35August 04 19.14 20.21 10.26September 04 45.41 41.43 59.13Successes / Failures20.8 Key successes:Two of the three members interviewed indicated that the club had enabled them to getrid of the second family car.“Having to book and pay for car use makes me much more careful and thoughtful aboutit.”20.9 Teething problems:One of three members interviewed indicated that the club had increased her car use.Her family could not afford to run a second car, so the club has provided access tovehicles that formerly did not exist.Due to insurance difficulties, a proposal to offer a rideshare matching service as part ofthe A2B membership package has been abandoned.A couple of marketing ideas have fallen flat. Examples include a Christmas promotionencouraging people to buy three months trial membership of the club as a gift for afriend, which had little take-up. Also, open/social evenings at the A2B offices forprospective members to meet existing members and find out more about how thescheme could work for them have not attracted much custom.Final V1.1, Dec. 2004 - 117 -
Page 1:
Department forTransportMaking Car S
Page 4 and 5:
MAKING CAR SHARING AND CAR CLUBS WO
Page 6 and 7:
Page 8 and 9:
Page 10 and 11:
Page 12:
Page 15 and 16:
Page 17:
Page 21 and 22:
Page 23 and 24:
Page 25 and 26:
Page 27 and 28:
Page 29 and 30:
Page 31 and 32:
Page 33 and 34:
Page 35 and 36:
Page 37 and 38:
Page 39 and 40:
Page 41 and 42:
Page 43 and 44:
Page 45 and 46:
Page 47 and 48:
Page 49 and 50:
Page 51 and 52:
Page 53 and 54:
Page 55 and 56:
Page 57 and 58:
Page 59 and 60:
Page 61 and 62:
Page 63 and 64:
Page 65 and 66:
Page 67 and 68:
Page 69 and 70: MAKING CAR SHARING AND CAR CLUBS WO
Page 119: MAKING CAR SHARING AND CAR CLUBS WO
show all

Making Car Sharing and Car Clubs Work - Case ... - The Civil Service

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?