[20
JUL 00] EARLSDON SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORT ASSOCIATION NEWS
Handbrake Off For Earlsdon Car Club
One
of the first car clubs in England was launched in Coventry today
following months of work by volunteers.
A
group of people living in Earlsdon decided to follow the example of
communities in Europe by linking together to form a car club instead
of owning separate vehicles.
Under
the scheme a Vauxhall Corsa is parked in a central location in
Earlsdon.
Members
of the club will have to pay a £25 joining fee and a £100 deposit in
case they damage the car.
There
is then a £10 monthly membership fee. After that the charges are
purely for use of the car.
More
than 50 people expressed an interest by completing an in-depth survey
for the Earlsdon Sustainable Transport Association.
Jo
Rathbone, who was involved in a car-sharing arrangements with
neighbours in Newcombe Road before the idea of the club took hold,
said people will have to pay £2 each time the car is borrowed, plus
15 pence a mile.
Members
of the club will be able to book it by phoning a call centre run by
Smart Moves. The firm, based at Coventry University’s TechnoCentre
will run the scheme and prepare monthly invoices for the members.
Jo
said:
“It’s
a real buzz now that we’ve got it going. There are 21 people are
going to be members, which is enough for one car, and if more people
sign up we will be able to get another one.
“Once
people have paid the membership fee there is no hassle for them.
They just pay for the use, and don’t have to worry about servicing
or maintenance.
“It
will give car access to people who cannot afford their own car, but
will also reduce the amount of cars on the streets.
“After
a while we will get a better idea of the usage and we hope the
scheme will spread nationwide later this year.
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