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The
quality of residential neighbourhoods strongly influences
people’s quality of life. Whilst private cars provide the
convenience of on-demand mobility, traffic and parked cars often
blight local living environments. This can be tackled by offering
attractive facilities for walking and cycling and good public
transport. A car club can provide a vital part of this transport
mix.
In established neighbourhoods
In a new residential development
When an area is undergoing
regeneration
Car
clubs work most effectively under the following conditions:
High
density of residents
Medium
to high density of residents - means there are instantly enough
people to establish the club with sufficient members, so it will
become viable as soon as possible. It seems that 20-25 members per
car means that the cars are used sufficiently for the club to be
financially viable, while the users still have free access to the
cars when they want them. 250 units is accepted to be the minimum
necessary for a stand-alone club.
Parking
restrictions
Parking
pressures will increase the percentage of residents who will join.
Tightened parking ratios also free up valuable land space
for alternative uses such as further housing or attractive green
space. Controlling parking nearby will help to prevent overspill
parking problems on nearby streets. 
Attractive
public transport
Attractive
and viable alternative transport is essential to counteract the
perceived ‘need’ for a private car.
If residents can make their daily journeys, including
commuting, by public transport, cycling or walking, then their
need for a car to make other journeys can easily be met by a car
club. A car club will be most effective where these other issues
are also addressed as part of a travelplan.
The
car club should ideally be designed-in to residential developments
from the outset. As the units are sold, the club should be
included in any marketing literature and the idea explained to
potential residents at an early stage. Free introductory
membership of the club is useful to draw people in. The car club
should be established as a vital part of the package, seen as an
asset not a weakness in the project.
The developer and the planning authority must understand
the concept and be fully supportive from the earliest possible
stage. This will ensure the smooth development and success of the
scheme. People find it much easier to change their travel habits
at the same time as making other lifestyle changes, such as moving
home or job.
Any
car club must be efficiently administered and contactable 24 hours
a day, 7 days a week in case issues arise. The club might be run
by a dedicated co-ordinator or remotely by an existing commercial
operator. The club
might coexist with a steering group of interested parties but the
daily operation should not be a burden on the developers or local
authorities involved.
Crucial
to the scheme are effective partnerships with transport operators
and local authorities (in rural areas the local authorities’
public transport department will need to be approached). Public
Transport Executives and operators can offer support in many ways
(ticketing offers through mutually beneficial collaboration with
public transport, marketing etc) and Executives will benefit from
proven higher than average use of public transport by members.
Local authorities can offer, for example, assistance with
acquiring on street parking, gaining political support for a
project. The earlier
these partnerships can be established the better, and full
advantage should be taken of mutually beneficial working.
‘Units in the development will not sell because potential buyers will
be put off by the lack of parking.’
Being a member of a car club is very different to living car free. A vehicle will be available whenever you need it – for transporting bulky goods or to visit friends where no public transport is available. It will be easier than car ownership as insurance, repairs and maintenance are all taken care of by the club operator. Not owning a car can bring about an immense sense of freedom.
Obtaining support from a local authority is key, preferably with strong
commitment from all levels. A specific mention of car clubs in the
Local Transport Plan will
help secure funding for the club. Almost 50% of the second round
of Local Transport Plans made specific mention of support for car
clubs.
If developers are committed to implementing a car club in a residential
development from the outset, the chances of it’s success are
vastly improved. One way in which developers can support car clubs
is by sanctioning a Section 106 agreement. This consists of a
planning agreement between the developer and the local authority
to ensure that the provision of car club facilities become an
integral part of a facility. It could include up-front costs, for
example the provision of signed parking bays.
Existing operators possess a great deal of experience of launching
successful car clubs in a variety of settings. This expertise will
be especially vital at the planning and launch stages. Operators
will be able to help establish the viability and likely size of a
club as well as leading on the recruitment of members and
marketing campaigns. They will be in a position to decide whether
public or private funding is needed to ensure success and options
for this can then be pursued.
The Servite Housing development in Putney includes car club provision in conjunction with Streetcar, highlighted in Homefocus, March 2006.
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