Car clubs - a soft measure to maximise travel choices

This article looks at the development of car clubs in the UK, where club members have access to a car in their neighbourhood for short-term hire. Popular in Europe since the 1980s, car clubs only gained acceptance in the UK in the 2000s, with most use being in London. The largest operator is Streetcar, with 400 locations in the London area, and use in other southern towns. Most users are professional people with above-average earnings. Economic and practical benefits include reduced car use in the capital, as users make more considered use of the cars and complement their use with public transport. Car clubs are appearing in local transport plans, with promotion of the concept by local authorities and developers. A further outlet for the scheme is at railway stations and operators are trying to co-ordinate promotion with station authorities. There is currently no discount from the London congestion charge for car club users, although this might be achieved if low-emission vehicles were used. The scheme might work in rural areas as a social enterprise rather than a commercial operation.