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Each car-sharing vehicle can take up to 20 private vehicles off the road

What is car-share?

Car-sharing can be 2 or more people commuting to the same place, sharing a vehicle. Typically, commuters who wish to share vehicles, utilize a car-sharing service that provides green vehicles for their commute.

Green benefits

All car-sharing services have taken vehicles off the road. In fact, Zipcar, a leading car-share provider, estimates that their service has taken nearly 25,000 vehicles off the road. Members realize that with a car-sharing service, a lot less of their time is spent behind the wheel, resulting in surrendering the ownership of their vehicles. This means lower carbon dioxide emissions, less congestion on the roads and fewer gallons of gas purchased and consumed. Zipcar estimates that each of their members now consumes 219 less gallons of gasoline per year. Members also report savings of $436 per month or $5,232 per year. Zipcar also states that they saved over 3 million gallons of gasoline in 2004.

Commuters utilizing car-sharing services have shown an impressive impact on our environment. Members of car-sharing programs have reported a 47% increase in public transit trips, a 10% increase in bicycle trips and a 26% increase in walking trips. These increases of non-carbon dioxide producing modes of transportation will continue to provide our planet with cleaner, healthier air.

How can employers help?

Visit one of the car-sharing websites below for more information on how your company can assist, inform and reward employees who utilize these environmentally friendly services.