Come on, join the club: Car clubs are helping reduce car ownership and parking demand in Islington

摘要

Car clubs offer a new way to retain the flexibility of driving a private vehicle without the problems and costs associated with car ownership such as repair bills, insurance and finding a parking space. Having joined a car club, members can book a vehicle and pay for the time used. Cars are collected from and returned to designated bays both on and off-street, with access gained by using an electronic key. There are a growing number of car club schemes operating across the country, many in partnership with local authorities willing to allocate dedicated street bays for cars belonging to clubs. One of the most enthusiastic advocates of car clubs is Islington Council, which has implemented a range of initiatives to help reduce car ownership and parking demand in the borough. Islington's car club, a joint initiative between the council and Streetcar, lays claim to being the largest car club in the UK, with some 5,000 members using nearly 150 vehicles.