One answer to the growing congestion, environmental, parking and expense issues that come with owning a car; is the car club. Companies such as StreetCar offer self-service cars and vans for rent for as little as 30 minutes to 6 months. StreetCar vehicles are parked in a dense network of dedicated spaces in six UK cities. The pay-as-you-go approach to car rental means you can book a car as little as 30 seconds ahead (that’s quicker than waiting for a taxi!).
StreetCar offer Volkswagen Golfs, Polo BlueMotions and Transporter vans which can be reserved online or by phone, and can be collected and returned using a high-tech smartcard and a PIN number used to operate the vehicle. Their club has expanded rapidly and are set to spread to other areas soon. They expect their membership to rise to 50,000 by next year, and 250,000 by 2012.
Independent research conducted by Transport for London shows that each car club vehicle on the road replaces an average of 20 privately-owned cars. It is estimated that over half of members chose not to buy or replace a car when they join the club. A fantastic alternative for drivers, can’t wait to see it available everywhere.
