Carsharing is a transportation service that provides communities with a neighborhood based fleet of vehicles available to members for a set rate. It provides an alternative to owning a car where public transit, walking, and cycling can be used most of the time and a car is only necessary for errands and special occasions.
Carsharing offers a range of environmental, economic, and transportation system benefits. It provides an affordable alternative to vehicle ownership and each carshare vehicle is estimated to take an average of 15 private vehicles off the road resulting in reduced congestion, vehicle emissions, energy consumption, and parking demand.
In 2008, SANDAG was awarded a Caltrans Community Based Planning Grant to plan for an on-street carshare demonstration project in downtown San Diego. The focus of this project was to increase transit use and reduce single occupant vehicle commuter trips by providing a last-mile solution and an option for trips that are not feasible by transit. In 2009, SANDAG completed the study, which determined the market demand for carsharing in downtown San Diego and identified the necessary steps for implementing an on-street carshare demonstration project.
For more information, e-mail carshare@sandag.org.