Streetcar Expands In Cambridge To Cope With Demand

Streetcar, the UK’s largest carsharing club, is set to dramatically increase the number of bays in Cambridge due to rising demand.

Streetcar is planning to increase the number of available vehicles from 11 to 31 following a surge of increased demand. In nine months, membership has increased 50 per cent as Cambridge residents look to find cheaper alternatives to buying a car. Bays will be chosen by residents, who can nominate locations on the website www.streetcar.co.uk.

Brett Akker, co-founder of Streetcar, said: “We’re delighted to be able to expand our service in Cambridge. Our phenomenal success in Cambridge and across the UK has shown that people really want the flexibility and convenience of owning a car, without the costs and hassle that go with it. Coupled with Cambridge’s strong transport links, the Streetcar service will provide the perfect option for people looking to give up a car, a trend which we’ve seen growing among our thousands of members¹.”

Streetcar has become an increasingly popular alternative for those who need occasional use of a vehicle. Membership has more than doubled in just over 12 months to 75,000 and is expected to rise to 250,000 by 2012. The scheme, which is simple to use², boasts over 1000 locations across seven cities; London, Brighton, Cambridge, Southampton, Guildford, Maidstone and, most recently, Oxford.

Cambridge Resident Naunton Pugh said, “I am delighted that the service is expanding in my city. Streetcar is the green, cheap³ and efficient alternative to car ownership.”

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Notes to editor

1. Independent research conducted by Transport for London shows that each car club vehicle on the road replaces an average of 26 privately-owned cars. This is because each car has an average of 40 users and, of those, over half chose not to buy (or replace) a car when they join the club. Streetcar has already taken over 20,000 privately-owned cars off the UK’s streets and is aiming to prevent the emission of around 50,000 tonnes of CO₂ over the next two years.

1. Members book a car online or over the phone, as little as 30 minutes ahead of time, and use remotely activated smartcards to unlock the vehicle, which is typically within three minutes walk of their home. At the end of the journey the car is returned to a dedicated Streetcar parking space. Prices start from £3.95 per hour. Annual membership is £59.50.

1. According to the RAC’s annual research, the cost of owning a car has rocketed by 19% since last year, with the average family spending £2435 to keep their vehicle on the road. Additional costs such as finance, insurance and depreciation bring this figure to £6133*. Car owners typically save over £2,000 per year after joining Streetcar.*(Source: Here)

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