Arlington Transportation Partners

Car sharing is a system of shared access to vehicles parked in your community or at transit stations. Users can pick up a clean, maintained automobile with a full tank of gas and drive it for as long as needed; only paying for what they use.  Zipcar provides car-sharing opportunities to residents and employers in the Washington, D.C. region.

Membership with a car-sharing service includes gas, maintenance, insurance, and parking. Membership fees vary based on how you plan to use the service.

What are the benefits of a car-sharing program?

Car sharing can save both you and your employees, residents, or guests money. Zipcar has found that once people join their service, they sell their old car and/or avoid buying a new car. With fewer vehicles owned per capita, parking demand decreases. Plus, car ownership is expensive and car-sharing allows individuals to save money while meeting their transportation needs. The American Automobile Association states that individuals driving 10,000 miles per year pay about $7,022 annually for their medium sized cars. This amount includes car payments, gas, maintenance, parking, and taxes.  Zipcar states that using one of their cars 15 hours per month will cost only $1,300 per year.

Can I afford to offer a car-sharing program?

Zipcar also offers membership plans for businesses of all sizes. Many organizations offer car sharing as an added employee benefit or as a way to pay for transportation to and from meetings.

How can ATP help?

ATP makes it easy and convenient for you to establish and administer a car-sharing program by performing the following services:

• Providing information on car-sharing programs and answering any questions
• Explaining implementation choices
• Helping you design the best car-sharing program for your needs
• Sponsoring a workshop or seminar to explain car-sharing

How can I encourage participation?

There are numerous ways to get the word out and encourage participation in a car-sharing program, including:

• Sending out e-mail notifications and reminders
• Displaying posters and flyers in high-traffic areas
• Including information packets with paychecks
• Including an article in your company newsletter
• Providing information on your company's intranet or website
• Including information in your new hire or new tenant packets