Community Cooperation Brings CarSharing to Hamilton
HAMILTON, ON – April 30, 2009 – Hamilton's first CarSharing co-operative will officially launch this weekend at the annual May Day Street Festival on Saturday, May 2, on King William Street, (between James Street North and Hughson Street North) from 11a.m. - 11p.m.
Hamilton CarShare, formed this week in co-operation with Grand River CarShare of Waterloo Region, will offer CarSharing services to Hamilton residents by late summer of this year. The non-profit co-operative will initially place three vehicles in the community for shared use. "Combining an enthusiastic group of new members in Hamilton with more than a decade of experience in the Waterloo Region, we are expecting Hamilton CarShare to be very successful early on," says Jason Hammond, President of the co-operative. "With the recession hitting hard and continuing deep concern for our climate, CarSharing is an idea whose time has come for Hamilton."
What has transformed into Hamilton CarShare started two months ago as a project between Green Venture, Clean Air Hamilton, First Unitarian Church, and a dedicated group of Hamilton residents has formed the basis of the Hamilton co-operative. "It’s moving so quickly because people are working together and everyone is contributing their skill set, and that’s what a co-operative is," says Sapphire Singh, CarShare Project Coordinator at Green Venture.
CarSharing co-operatives operate a fleet of vehicles available to members on self-serve pay-per-use basis. Reservations for CarShare vehicles can be made for as little as 30 minutes, or as long as needed. Members are billed monthly for insurance and vehicle use. Gas and vehicle maintenance costs are included in the co-op’s rates. CarSharing is a great alternative to owning your own vehicle, and reduces overall transportation costs for households. Carsharing also helps improve air quality through reduced tailpipe emissions.
Hamilton residents interested in joining Hamilton’s CarSharing co-operative can visit
www.hamiltoncarshare.ca, email:
info@hamiltoncarshare.ca, or call 905-543-4411.