Carshare non-profit eyes Peterborough

The city hasn’t given up on providing its residents with a car sharing program.

A new city staff report released Thursday proposes the city enter into an agreement with Community CarShare, a not-forprofit car-sharing organization.

The proposal asks Peterborough council to vote on bringing four vehicles – one of which would be made wheelchair-accessible – to the city for public, car-share use.

It’s not the first time the city has discussed partnering with the organization.

Talks were put on hold in November 2013 when the private company Student CarShare launched in Peterborough, focusing on students but making its service available to everyone.

The company went bankrupt abruptly on March 3, 2016, leaving the city without a car sharing option.

Car sharing isn’t the same as car rentals.

The proposal said that car sharing provides self-serve, pay-peruse cars to its customers that can be reserved within 30 minutes. It is more accessible than renting – you don’t need a credit card – and typically more affordable for shorter rental times and distances, the proposal stated.

Councillors will hold a first vote on the proposal while meeting as committee of the whole Tuesday night. They’ll be asked to decide if the city will pay $60,000 for the organization’s initial operating cost and another $27,000 to retrofit a vehicle with wheelchair accessibility.

The proposal said that, based on studies of the organization’s net profits in cities similar to Peterborough, these costs would be recovered within the first two years of the organization’s operation.

Council will also vote on designating parking spaces at municipal facilities for exclusive use of the organization’s vehicles.

City workers could also make use of the cars.

The proposal also asks the city to become a corporate member of the organization for an annual fee of $360 and a monthly fee of $30.

Membership costs would be allocated to the operating budget of the transportation demand management section, states the proposal. It said at least five city workers are expected to make use of car-sharing services.

The proposed date for Community CarShare to begin operations in the city is September.