Flexcar Challenge Participants Thrive, not Drive

    WASHINGTON--Sept. 19, 2002--Nearly two weeks ago, 12 D.C.-area citizens handed over their car keys to Flexcar, pledging to walk, ride Metro, bike and use Flexcar to get around town for an entire month.
    The "Flexcar 12" agreed to document their "car-free" existence via journals they submit to the company. More excerpts from the diaries are available on Flexcar's Website at www.flexcar.com.
    Flexcar's innovative program provides members with access to a fleet of 32 environmentally friendly vehicles, including gas-electric hybrids and light pickup trucks, located at or near Metro stations in Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia. Members reserve the vehicles for hourly use with Flexcar covering the cost of the car, gas, parking, insurance, and maintenance. Members can pay an hourly or monthly rate for use of the vehicles.
    Overwhelmingly the participants have found that living without their car has been easier than they thought, and some have found the experience liberating.
    "On Saturday I planned to go to the gym. Because parking spaces there are free and abundant on weekends, normally I take my car," said Alexandra Mackie, a resident of Washington, D.C. "But not having immediate access to a vehicle made me think about whether or not I really needed one. And of course I didn't. My bike was fine for the short trip, and besides, it makes more sense to ride a bike than drive to the gym."
    One of the hallmarks of the Flexcar program is the effect it has on members' thinking about transportation. As Alexandra notes, when a car is right in a driveway, building or nearby on the street, we often don't think twice about driving to a place where we normally could walk or bike.
    Not all Challenge Participants use Flexcar for weekend and evening use. Flexcar is ideal for Metro commuters who need a vehicle during the workday for personal or business errands.
    Robert Mariner, who lives in Fredericksburg but works in Alexandria, reported "I have used Flexcar twice for quick runs to lunch, to the bank, and to run a few other errands. I tell you, this was an excellent idea. For me, living about 60 miles from the office and riding the train, has left me without the ability to take care of little things that come up during the day."
    Perhaps Jennie Drimmer summed it up best when she wrote, "Perhaps what has really struck me as a car-less person is realizing how very little we actually need one. I was amazed when we returned the car to see we had only traveled around a dozen miles. Seemed silly to think that I had once 'needed' a car to do these kinds of trips."
    The Flexcar Challenge continues until October 6. Updates, information and diary excerpts from participants are available on Flexcar's Website at www.flexcar.com.

    Flexcar

    Headquartered in Seattle, Flexcar now operates car-sharing programs for more than 7,000 members in more than a dozen cities and counties in 5 states and the District of Columbia. With flexible pricing plans, members can reserve and drive any of these cars whenever and wherever they need to, without filling out complicated paperwork, paying for insurance, gas or repairs. Flexcar Business Memberships enable companies to augment or replace their fleet with Flexcar vehicles. Flexcar's modern fleet includes sedans, gas-electric hybrids, electric cars and specialty vehicles including pickups and convertibles. Flexcar has established strategic partnerships with King County (Wash.) Metro Transit, Kitsap County (Wash.) Transit, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), Parsons Transportation Group and American Honda Motor Company, Inc.

    Editor's Note: Correct spelling and punctuation is "Flexcar"; not FlexCar or Flex Car.