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Car sharing, as being explored by Utah Transit Authority, is an intriguing idea for Wasatch Front communities and ought to be vigorously pursued.
Basically, it's a way for people who don't own a car, or for commuters who use mass transit, to have 24/7 access on demand to a rental car for short-term, even hourly use.
Successful car-sharing programs have been springing up around the country, mostly in metropolitan areas where residents can often get by without actually owning a car. Instead, they join a car-sharing program for an annual fee, and rent a car only when they actually need one. Typically, the hourly or daily rate charged includes fuel, insurance and maintenance.
UTA is partnering with Salt Lake City and the University of Utah in getting a car-sharing program going. They recently invited car-share providers to submit proposals for establishing the program in the Salt Lake area as early as February.
As we said, it is an intriguing idea, with no outlay of public funds. The only commitment of the city, the U, and UTA would be to provide dedicated parking spaces in strategic staging areas for the rental cars. In KSL's view, it's an innovative way to increase mobility throughout the region while encouraging more transit oriented development.
