More join car sharing clubs

THOUSANDS OF private cars have beeen taken off the road thanks to more people signing up to car clubs in Scotland.

A new report has found that the number of people who joined car-sharing schemes rose by one fifth in 2020.

The research by shared transport charity Collaborative Mobility (CoMoUK) concluded that resulted in 5,177 fewer cars on Scotland’s roads.

It said: “Our research consistently finds that car clubs lead to a reduction in private car ownership and use. For each car club vehicle in Scotland, around ten private cars are taken off the road. That’s 5,177 vehicles taken off the road thanks to Scotland’s 515 car club cars.

“This is based on the number of cars sold or disposed of since joining the car club, and those who deferred buying a car because of joining.”

Lorna Finlayson, Scotland director for CoMoUK, said: “This research shows explicitly that car-sharing plays a significant role in cutting carbon emissions and reducing the demand for private cars.

“Tens of thousands of people in

Scotland are now signed up to car clubs, and that is something to be celebrated and improved upon. We know that for every car club vehicle on the road, a further ten private cars are taken off the road.

“This success will assist the Scottish Government in making real progress in hitting its ambitious climate change targets.

“But our report found shared transport can have a real impact beyond simply reducing emissions. Those involved in car clubs are more likely to walk and cycle, something that is known to improve physical and mental health.

“And by giving up ownership of a private car to join a car club, there are significant financial savings to be made too.”

More than half of car club members are aged 25 to 44.