Get away without a car of your own
WHEN Melbourne father of two Andrew Smith found himself without a car two years ago, he decided to conduct an experiment.
He would spend one whole year without a vehicle and calculate his savings.
“I kept a record of what I spent on transport and in that first year it cost me around $1600,” Mr Smith said. “This was compared with the $8000 it would have set me back to lease a car.”
Living in an inner city area and able to use public transport to get to and from work, Mr Smith also rode a bike. When he needed to take his kids to sport, he rented vehicles through Car Next Door; a sharing platform with 40,000 members, where users pay an hourly rate to rent cars from private local owners.
“The closest car to me is 130m away, but I often go 300m for one that only costs me $4 an hour,” Mr Smith said.
“With high-density living, the number of car spaces does not match apartments being built. If you live near the city, it is absolutely worthwhile.”
Research on shared transport modes shows peer-to-peer car lending has a bright future, says Monash University’s Professor George Rose.
“The evidence is this is a way
people can share resources without spending too much,” Professor Rose said. “They don’t have to worry about where they park it, the maintenance, getting it washed …
“One weekend you might need a station wagon, another you might need a small runabout for the shopping. This is a win.”
Professor Rose estimates that one car share vehicle replaces eight to 10 cars on the road.
“The community is a winner,”
he said, adding that on top of reducing traffic in inner city areas, there were also benefits for users in suburban or regional areas.
“Traditionally, in suburban areas there would be less take up, but peer-to-peer may mean a family is able to do away with a second car. This can save serious money and local government needs to be mindful about community benefits when making car share spaces available.”