Should Car Sharing Replace Public Transit?

The U.S. could provide energy efficient cars for all travel by low-income transit riders for less than the cost of transit subsidies.

1 minute read

July 8, 2004, 5:00 AM PDT

By Chris Steins @planetizen

It would cost less than $10 billion to provide cars for all the transit riders who don't have access to them, compared with annual spending of about $25 billion on transit subsidies. A commercial model for such a program already exists. Around the world, anti-automobile activists have stablished "car-share" networks that allow people to have access to cars without having to own them. For example, "Flex-Car" in Portland provides cars for less than $0.30 per vehicle mile--a rate that includes the car, insurance, service, and fuel. Today, car-sharing is seen as a substitute for car ownership. But its larger market may be to replace public transit systems.

Thanks to Chris Steins

FULL STORY: Why Not Just Buy Them Cars?

Tuesday, July 6, 2004 in Heartland Institute

Transportation United States

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Start Learning

Advertise with us

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.