By Jenny Suo
Auckland Council has allocated street parking for a new car-sharing scheme in an effort to reduce congestion on the roads.
“We are trying to encourage people to car-share and to use public transport. This is just another way to stop people being stuck in so much congestion as we come into the city in the morning,” says Sharon Hunter, of Auckland Transport.
The vehicles will come from car sharing company, City Hop, and will be parked at three inner-city locations.
The cost to use them will be $15 an hour including petrol.
Users need to first register with City Hop where they will receive a card that they can use to swipe over the windscreen to unlock the car.
The idea is based on a similar scheme in Sydney that was launched four years ago and now supports thousand of car-share members.
There are also 250 electric vehicles available on the scheme in Paris.
City Hop’s founder, Victoria Carter, hopes her fleet of 25 will be just as popular.
“It’s reported to take up to 15 privately-owned cars off the road, so if we’re serious about a more liveable city with cleaner air, then car-share is the way,” says Ms Carter.
Auckland Council will trial the car-sharing scheme for a year and a half and they hope to make more City Hop cars available on the streets if they prove popular.
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