Car-sharing service expands to Collar City
Another transportation option offered in Collar City
TROY, N.Y.» The Collar City is getting a car-sharing program, adding another transportation option to both area residents and visitors.
Capital CarShare Inc., an Albany-based non-profit car-sharing organization that aims to provide affordable and sustainable neighborhood transportation, announced at a news conference Monday that it is expanding operations to Troy, marking the first placement of Capital CarShare vehicles outside of Albany.
This week, the organization will place two vehicles in Troy, in front of 80 Second St. in the downtown district and near 585 River St. in the city’s North Central neighborhood, that will be available for reservation.
Carshare memberships start at $5 per month for individuals and less than $17 per month for businesses, in addition to a one-time initial investment of $20. From there, hourly rates range from $4 to $11. Included in those costs are gas, maintenance, insurance and roadside assistance.
Operating since 2014, Capital CarShare has eight operating vehicles placed throughout Albany.
“It’s one of the best ways of getting around town,” said Joe Bonilla, president of the board of directors for Capital CarShare, at Monday’s Troy event. “You don’t need to own your own vehicle. It’s all about the sharing economy.”
Assemblyman John McDonald spoke of how this aspect of the new sharing economy is a great opportunity to bring more life to area cities. “When you look at the mindset of many individuals, they don’t feel like they need to own things all the time but they do feel the need to be able to get from point A to point B on their schedule at their time,” he said. “With the advances in technology, the surety that these vehicles will be around I can only see Capital CarShare, as well as the other realms of the sharing economy, continue to grow and continue to breathe new life into our urban areas.”
Rensselaer County Executive Kathleen Jimino added how while
the sharing economy is driven by younger generations, those approaching retirement age like herself can also take advantage of carsharing as a way of downsizing. “To have the ability to carshare in this way make an alternative that I wouldn’t have considered before,” she said. Jimino also noted that if more people shared cars rather than owning them, it could help alleviate parking problems, calling Capital CarShare a wonderful opportunity. “For the general public to have the option to move around in a way that’s convenient to them is really critical,” she said.
“The beauty of carsharing is that it does help to ease congestion and parking congestion,” said Melanie Beam, executive director of Capital CarShare, citing that studies say each one carsharing vehicle eliminates 10 to 15 in the neighborhood.
Furthermore, Beam shared that owning a private vehicle costs around $8,000 per year, while using carsharing and other transportation options typically costs $2,900.
“I’m really delighted to have Capital CarShare expanding in Troy,” said Mayor Patrick Madden at the event. “Cars are expensive. They’re expensive to buy. They’re expensive to maintain. When you live in an urban environment, parking becomes a real concern. So bringing Capital CarShare to the city of Troy helps us promote the livability of the city. It makes it that much more conducive to the people that are looking to shed some of their material possessions and simplify their life.”
Katie Hammon, executive director of the Downtown Troy Business Improvement District, said in a news release, “Troy is an incredibly walkable city where one does not need to own a vehicle. However the convenience of a quick trip to the grocery store is something made much easier through Capital CarShare. This intriguing resource fits a broad range of individuals who either cannot afford to, or choose not to own their own vehicle, making city living that much more convenient.”
More information about Capital CarShare is available online at capitalcarshare.org or by calling (518) 545-4740.