Portland Transport

Category: Carsharing

  • More Reflections on car2go

    Now that car2go has been in operation for a few weeks, I’ve had a chance to use it a handful of times and have some additional observations. There’s also been more than a little chatter on the interwebs among transportation advocates that car2go makes it too convenient to use a car! In my own use,…

  • Is Parking (or Avoiding it) the Killer App for car2go?

    Perhaps the most distinguishing characteristic of the car2go car-sharing system that debuted in Portland last week is one-way rentals. One-way trips imply a very different parking model than the incumbent Zipcar. Zipcars have reserved spaces (for which Zipcar pays the City – at least for those in on-street meter zones). You have to end each…

  • Where the Cars Are

    car2go launched in Portland officially this past weekend. I had the chance to go for a test drive this week with CEO Nicholas Cole. I won’t go into the system details, because Jonathan Maus and Dave Brook have both done excellent write-ups already. The signal feature of the system is one-way, reservationless trips. As I…

  • The Explosion of Vehicle Sharing Options

    I’m now a member of three car-sharing systems. Not that I use any of them very often. We’re a one-car household, but generally I can arrange most of my must-use-an auto trips so that I can borrow my partner’s hybrid (and she is very clear it’s HERS). But maybe a dozen times a year, I…

  • Car Sharing Trends

    Portland State University Center for Transportation Studies Winter 2012 Transportation Seminar Series Speaker: Steve Gutmann (Getaround) Topic: Car Sharing Trends Abstract: http://www.cts.pdx.edu/abstracts/gutmann_abstract.php When: Friday, March 9, 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. Where: PSU Urban Center Building, SW 6th and Mill, Room 204