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WhizzGo, which operates
the new and fast expanding Leeds car club, offers car hire in unique co-operation with Leeds City Council, and Metro. WhizzGo
is proving popular with businesses and organisations as well as individuals.
WhizzGo works with local councils and transport authorities to integrate its cars into local transport networks. In Leeds, WhizzGo launched in July 2004 with eight cars at four locations around the city parked in exclusively reserved bays. They currently have cars at 18 locations in the city.
Partners benefits
WhizzGo members get a 15% discount on travel in the city through the annual
MetroCard, provided by the West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive (Metro).
New members at launch could also get a free monthly MetroCard. Hertz car rental
offers WhizzGo members 10% off the best available non-prepaid rates in the UK;
5% off the best available prepaid rates in the UK, and 10% off member benefit
non-prepaid rates worldwide outside the UK.
Corporate membership
As well as attracting individual members WhizzGo is also working with
organisations to reduce their transport costs and to encourage their staff and
members to increase their usage of car clubs and public transport. Organisations
which have joined include Leeds City Council, Arup, and Turley Associates.
WhizzGo is also working with Barratt and other developers to integrate car clubs
into property developments in the city.
How it works
People sign up by buying annual membership
for £49.50, then select from a choice of Value Packages, or choose Pay as You
Go driving.
Members who find their
usage is more or less per month than they planned can change their plan at any
stage during the month to reduce their costs.
WhizzGo is using innovative technology supplied by INVERS GmbH, based in Siegen, Germany, the twin city of Leeds. The INVERS equipment installed in each WhizzGo car includes an on-board computer, which restricts entry to members who have booked the car and records the time they spend in a car and how many miles they travel. Once members have booked a car on the internet, booking information will be electronically relayed to the car, which will open automatically to the member who has booked it at the wave of the member's smart card. Members can talk directly to the WhizzGo team using the car's on-board computer, which also has a port to connect an MP3 music player. Potential car thieves should not bother trying to steal a WhizzGo car because they will not be able to drive away without a smart card and correct pin number. WhizzGo cars are Citroën C3 Desire 1.4 litre models.
MEMBER PROFILES
Jonathan,
age 45
Leeds architect
"Being a car club member, first of all, saves you money; I keep running the cost through my mind thinking whether or not I should buy another car and I reckon I save a couple of grand a year in a car club. You also tend to see transport in a more complete way. There are a number of different ways to get places: by public transport, by car, by bicycle or walking. For me, it is important to do what I can as an individual to reduce my impact on the environment."
Andy
Rollinson
Leeds office director of Turley Associates
"As a company we made a decision to move to the city centre in Leeds. Sending out the right message is important to get the sort of work we want in the inner-city and we thought it was fundamentally wrong to be based outside. We also took a conscious decision not to provide parking. We operate on a team basis and thought it was wrong to spend £2,000 a station for parking places, which might only benefit a few people. We use public transport wherever possible. Using WhizzGo cars I will be able to work better and more efficiently, doing site visits in chunks. But WhizzGo also offers flexibility. We can also see clients at the drop of a hat if we need to."
Helen, late 20s
Helen who runs Leeds-based telemarketing company J2Profit, and lives in the city centre said: "I decided to get rid of my car because I was hardly using it; once a week to go to the supermarket and once at the weekend. I use WhizzGo cars now to visit clients, to go to the supermarket and days out in the countryside. I know it saves me a lot of money and I have started to walk to places more and use my bicycle. I think if you asked me if I wanted to get a car in the future I would look at green issues more. I feel better for being environmentally friendly."
Contacts
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Operator: WhizzGo website |
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or Call WhizzGo on 0870 446 6000 |
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