ITHACA, N.Y. -- These members of Ithaca's new car share program are learning how to sign out one of the city's six Carshare vehicles. The cars are located around the city and provide as-needed transportation for those who don't have or don't want to own a car.
"We really feel that we're part of the transit system. You're looking at taking a trip, would you like to walk, is it best to bike. Maybe owning an Ithaca Carshare vehicle or taking the bus is going to be most cost-effective for you," said Jennifer Dotson, the executive director of the Ithaca Carshare program.
The program is broken down into two plans. One is designed for people who plan to use a car often, called the "It's My Car" plan. The other is designed for those who occasionally use a car called the "Just In Case" plan. Each plan has a membership fee and usage charges.
Insurance, repairs and the cost of gas can make owning a vehicle expensive. But with Ithaca's new Carshare program, you won't need to worry about those costs and can still use a car 24-7. Our Allison Lazarz explains how Ithaca is making it possible for you to drive a car without owning one.
"I'll save a little money but that's not my primary motivation. It's more about having transportation options and diversifying my transportation. I also don't like being held hostage by the oil industry per say. I just want to be free of all the limitations that they put on us," said Bob Wigden, a Carshare member.
With these cars you don't even have to keep track of your gas mileage. You get a fob device that you touch to the windshield. That sends a signal to the office that lets them know how many miles were driven in each vehicle.
Other hassles you don't have to worry about after signing up for the car share…
"There's not additional paperwork to do, you're covered by our insurance, gas is covered, cleaning is covered," said Dotson.
So far, 70 people have signed up for the Carshare program and this is only its first day of operation.
To learn more about the Ithaca Carshare program, you can visit their Web site at IthacaCarshare.org.