Project will expand carsharing across San Francisco, promises to reduce parking congestion, improve environment & boost local economy.
SAN FRANCISCO, CA— April 9, 2014 — It is official, Getaround is one of three carsharing services selected by the SFMTA as a partner in the new Carsharing Policy and Pilot Project in San Francisco. In addition, the SFMTA is releasing the on and off-street parking spot selections and the project launch timeline. Getaround is the leading peer-to-peer carsharing company that enables you to find, rent, and unlock great cars instantly from your phone. The other two San Francisco based companies selected for the project are ZipCar and local non-profit City CarShare. The project is unprecedented in its scope and scale, and Getaround's inclusion represents an inflection point for peer-to-peer carsharing.
The two-year project, which will include approximately 900 new carsharing parking spots across the city, aims to accommodate the growing popularity of carsharing services in San Francisco and make carsharing a real alternative to car ownership in every neighborhood across San Francisco. In doing so, it also stands to improve San Francisco's local economy, traffic congestion, and environment by eliminating over 10,000 cars in San Francisco.
"As carsharing is expanded across the City, San Franciscans will be able to instantly access a great car when and where they need it, providing a real alternative to car ownership." said David Chiu, President of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, who has championed on-street carsharing opportunities, "This is smart policy and represents an important step toward building a more connected, sustainable, Transit First city."
The project's benefits are expected to be substantial. Studies have shown each shared vehicle removes approximately 10 cars from the road, with recent studies in leading markets showing a displacement of 32 cars. By creating 900 spaces for carshare vehicles the project stands to eliminate tens of thousands of cars from San Francisco's congested streets and parking ecosystem. San Franciscans can participate in the project by applying to put their personal car in the project via Getaround, both offsetting the cost of car ownership and benefitting their local neighborhood.
The project is also the latest illustration of of the rapid growth of Getaround and adoption of the Sharing Economy. "This is an inflection point for peer-to-peer carsharing and the future of cities," said Jessica Scorpio, Founder of Getaround. "This project will effectively double the size of Getaround Instant's fleet and empower San Franciscans to earn additional income, approximately $500-$1000 a month, while helping the environment — this is good for our community and will serve as a model for cities around the world."
The project has gained support from leading organizations in both the environmental and business community including SPUR, citi.sf, Silicon Valley Leadership Group, and the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC). "San Francisco's carsharing service is as much a transportation solution as an environmental solution. It will allow SF residents to meet their daily needs without having to own a car, saving them thousands of dollars a year and making it more affordable to live here," says Amanda Eaken, Deputy Director for Urban Solutions at the NRDC.
The SFMTA is hosting a public hearing about the Project on May 2nd and will roll out the onstreet locations this summer. Local residents are encouraged to attend the hearing to learn more and show support for the project. If you are interested inparticipating by sharing your car or joining Getaround as a member, signup for free at Getaround.com.
About Getaround
Getaround empowers people to safely share cars by the hour, day, or week through a trusted online marketplace. By providing the Getaround Carkit, in-car technology designed in-house, as well as complete insurance coverage backed by Assurant, Getaround helps to create a seamless and fun sharing experience. Getaround is free to join, and for as little as $5 an hour, members can conveniently rent nearby cars and save money on auto payments, insurance and maintenance. Owners share cars ranging from a Smart to a Tesla, offsetting the high cost of car ownership, while making a positive impact on the environment, and earning thousands in extra income each year.