Comments on: Streetsbloggers Write on Future of Car Sharing in LA http://la.streetsblog.org/2008/07/23/streetsbloggers-write-on-future-of-car-sharing-in-la/ Covering Los Angeles's livable streets movement Sat, 21 Nov 2009 21:23:58 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8 hourly 1 By: Will Campbell http://la.streetsblog.org/2008/07/23/streetsbloggers-write-on-future-of-car-sharing-in-la/comment-page-1/#comment-1665 Will Campbell Wed, 23 Jul 2008 23:47:33 +0000 http://la.streetsblog.org/2008/07/23/streetsbloggers-write-on-future-of-car-sharing-in-la/#comment-1665 Months ago back when Flexcar still lived and this issue was initially in front of Councilmember Gruel and her transportation committee I was a huge endorser of the idea of dedicated on-street parking for shared-cars. Then, as Ingrid point out above, Zipcar came to town and opted to strip out Flexcar's vehicle distribution and cater strictly to the college crowd by relocating some of the fleet to USC and UCLA. I'll never forgive Zipcar for so blatantly foresaking Flexcar members such as myself, and its now dampened my enthusiasm for shared-car parking programs; Zipcar basically said "fuck you" to me and I don't want them benefiting from any city support. That may not be a very objective or mature stance, and indeed beyond whatever company name is on the letterhead, I have serious reservations as to whether a car-sharing program can succeed in this region. Flexcar wasn't perfect by any means but it was more of what car-sharing programs should be. Months ago back when Flexcar still lived and this issue was initially in front of Councilmember Gruel and her transportation committee I was a huge endorser of the idea of dedicated on-street parking for shared-cars. Then, as Ingrid point out above, Zipcar came to town and opted to strip out Flexcar's vehicle distribution and cater strictly to the college crowd by relocating some of the fleet to USC and UCLA.

I'll never forgive Zipcar for so blatantly foresaking Flexcar members such as myself, and its now dampened my enthusiasm for shared-car parking programs; Zipcar basically said "fuck you" to me and I don't want them benefiting from any city support. That may not be a very objective or mature stance, and indeed beyond whatever company name is on the letterhead, I have serious reservations as to whether a car-sharing program can succeed in this region. Flexcar wasn't perfect by any means but it was more of what car-sharing programs should be.

]]> By: ingrid http://la.streetsblog.org/2008/07/23/streetsbloggers-write-on-future-of-car-sharing-in-la/comment-page-1/#comment-1651 ingrid Wed, 23 Jul 2008 18:21:14 +0000 http://la.streetsblog.org/2008/07/23/streetsbloggers-write-on-future-of-car-sharing-in-la/#comment-1651 I used flexcar a bit before zipcar took them over and removed half of the LA fleet (sad).... but a city sponsored car share program is a wonderful idea. Put bike racks on th back of the cars!! Super easy to bike to a car-share. Again, great letter!!!! I used flexcar a bit before zipcar took them over and removed half of the LA fleet (sad)....

but a city sponsored car share program is a wonderful idea.

Put bike racks on th back of the cars!! Super easy to bike to a car-share.

Again, great letter!!!!

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