[sustran] Re: "many people misunderstand car sharing and car-pooling. It is not the time."

[Lee Schipper]

Problem is that in places where OWNING is expensive (Denmark,
effectively 200% tax on new car purchase), or to some
extent Shanghai (rationed numbers of new cars, high taxes), driving/car
is usually high enough to offest much of the effects
of tax. Sweden, with relatively low taxes on cars and significaintly
higher ownership than Denmark and slightly higher
gasoline prices, has about the same car km/capita as Denmark.

The key is to make parking costs, utilization costs ete reflect real
costs and use, not just lump it on new car fees. 

>>> edelman at greenidea.info 07/06/06 1:27 PM >>>
Hi,

It seems that carsharing is mostly used - so far - to get people out
of
their individual cars, which can have a good but limited effect. IF,
on
the other hand, carsharing is implemented - philosophically and/or via
marketing of e.g.  "Gotham City Transport Solutions" - it can be an
alternative to someone getting their own car. So a better step forward
rather than a better step backwards, if you get my meaning.

BUT BUT BUT as Lee said it COULD stimulate car ownership, so the thing
to
do is make it bloody difficult to own a car, relatively speaking, with
stick and carrot approach, with high taxes for private cars. BUT yeah
I
dont know this could just get more people into carism so...

press release
6.7.2006

GOTHAM CITY commits to carfree future, offers carsharing as mobility
solution in interim

Gotham City - Mayor Rice and Beans announced today details of the
ten-year
plan to make Gotham City carfree within the 2nd ringroad. In addition
to
having the first two ringroads exclusively for BRT and cycle-based
transport, she announced a massive carsharing programme.

"A carshare car still pollutes with noise and emissions, still kills
anyone it touches when it is moving at a normal speed, still takes but
more space than any other form of public transport or non-motorised
transport, " said Mayor Rice and Beans, " but the city council, after
an
extensive amount of public discussion and debate, has decided to
support a
carsharing system integrated into our public transport, and
non-motorised
transport system, for the next ten years, when GC within the
second-ring
road will be carfree.

"The carsharing system will use the same SmartCard as public transport
and
bikesharing/storage, and in addition every carshare car will contain
two
folding bicycles which can be taken on public transport for free etc.
The
goal here is seamless mobility, but not uncontrolled mobility...

- T
Dept of Optimistic Speculation,
Green Idea Factory


> Not sure I agree about car sharing..in most developing countries
getting
> a driver license is a big hurdle, and car sharing requires that..once
cs
> has stimulated more folks to get licenses and then to taste car
> ownership, I think it iwll stimulate them to become car owners.
> There are also basic issues of liabiltiy,theft etc... Not sure how
> these play out.. but I fear car sharing will accelerate car
> ownership/use..
>
>>>> "Eric Britton" <eric.britton at ecoplan.org> 07/06/06 2:44 AM >>>
> Dear Zhu,
>
>
>
> There are situations in which "not the time" is the best time.
>
>
>
> My small (and most respectful) way of saying that since carsharing
has
> or
> can have a certain, call it, Yuppie image, it strikes me that it
just
> might
> be marketable in . . .
>
>
>
> BTW, carsharing does not save the world or even cities. But it can
be
> one of
> a very large number of percent solutions, which when you put the all
> together you just might have a far more sustainable transport
systems.
>
>
>
> Requires thought (including driving out a lot of old thoughts from
our
> busy
> minds that are probably the most important challenge) and then good
old
> hard
> work.
>
>
>
> Bottom line: Carsharing could work in China, but needs a hero.
>
>
>
> Eric Britton
>
>
>
>
>
> Hi,
>
>
>
> I did not have much time to the long article about car in China. 
But,
> yes,
> car sharing is a new concept for most China people, and many people
> misunderstand car sharing and car-pooling. It is not the time.
>
>
>
>
>
> Zhu Songli
>
> Beijing
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> ================================================================
> SUSTRAN-DISCUSS is a forum devoted to discussion of people-centred,
> equitable and sustainable transport with a focus on developing
countries
> (the 'Global South'). Because of the history of the list, the main
focus
> is on urban transport policy in Asia.
>


------------------------------------------------------

Todd Edelman
Director
Green Idea Factory

++420 605 915 970

edelman at greenidea.info 
http://www.worldcarfree.net/onthetrain 

Green Idea Factory,
a member of World Carfree Network



================================================================
SUSTRAN-DISCUSS is a forum devoted to discussion of people-centred,
equitable and sustainable transport with a focus on developing countries
(the 'Global South'). Because of the history of the list, the main focus
is on urban transport policy in Asia.