Car sharing scheme to be extended on Southside

TO MARK Earth Day 2017 last week, GoCar announced ambitious plans to remove up to 5,000 private cars off the streets of Ireland by the end of this year.

The Irish car sharing company, which recently launched six new on-street bases in the Dun Laoghaire area as part of a pilot car club, says it will achieve this by growing its fleet of shared cars to over 300.

By encouraging multiple people to share a single car, car sharing reduces car dependency, traffic congestion, noise and air pollution, and frees up land traditionally used for parking spaces, Gocar said in a statement.

“Each shared car has been proven to replace up to 15 private cars, as well as increasing use of public transport,” they state.

GoCar allows people to hire cars for as little as 30 minutes, using a booking system to reserve the vehicle and in-car technology to unlock the car and drive it. Fuel, tax, insurance and maintenance are all included.

“Car sharing is ideal for people who only need occasional access to a car but don’t want to own one, or families who want to sell their primary or second car,” Gocar states.

“It also allows those who cannot afford a car the opportunity to drive on a pay-per use basis.”

GoCar, in partnership with Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council, recently launched six new on-street bases for members of the car club in the Dundrum public car park, Cabinteely Village, Blackrock DART Station, Carmanhall Road in Sandyford, and Crofton Road and Haddington Terrace in Dún Laoghaire.

The move comes in response to the success of the car sharing initiative with Dublin City Council, which has seen increased demand from local residents and businesses since GoCar was launched in 2008.

These locations offer convenient connections with DART and Luas stations, as well as with the dlr LexIcon and Dundrum Town Centre.

GoCar users can hire cars for as little as one hour for a fee that includes fuel, tax, insurance, and maintenance.

The new launch offers Dún Laoghaire Rathdown residents and businesses an easily accessible car and is an alternative to car ownership, replacing between 10-15 private cars per GoCar on the road.

Colm Brady, Managing Director of GoCar, said they were delighted to partner with Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council on expanding the service.

“With GoCar planning to double the number of vehicles available in 2017, it is hoped this move will see more local authorities providing on-street parking permits for car-sharing,” he said.

“We’re constantly open to feedback from the public on an area where they would like to see car-sharing.

“Local communities can visit GoCar.ie/Locations to request a GoCar near a workplace, or a street, or any other location.”

The cathaoirleach of Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council, Cllr  Cormac Devlin, welcomed the roll out of GoCar in the county as part of the pilot car club.

“This initiative provides choice as it offers an alternative sustainable travel mode to users to help them get around the county,” he said.