New Haven Independent

Posted by: charlie | February 7, 2008 10:57 AM

Why isn't Zipcar more popular? Why isn't there also a shared bicycle service, like what almost every single European city (both large and small) has instituted over the past few years? The reason is because bicycles and pedestrians are not considered by transporation planners in this country. Roads are designed so that cars can make quick turns at high speeds, not so that pedestrians can quickly and safely cross. Cyclists are completely ignored. Pedestrians would use a Zipcar, but can't walk there without getting run over by cars going 50MPH through their town. State and national policies mean that developers get bonuses for developing farmland 30 miles from the city while urban residents are penalized for their choice of where to live, and forced to inhale the toxic exhaust and break dust of the legions of suburban commuters.

The hundreds of billions of dollars we spend on cars each year largely goes to other countries or goes to waste (literally), which is one of the main reasons why European cities that have embraced non-motorized transit are growing economically while our country is $10,000,000,000,000+ in debt.

Zipcar is a good idea, but it won't solve the problems we have, which run much deeper and threaten to destroy our entire planet. Change should start locally with radical overthrow of the policies that serve the automobile-industrial complex. It's by far the biggest problem facing our country.

Posted by: robn | February 7, 2008 1:34 PM

Charlie,

New Haven DOES have a shared bicycle service. You simply go down to the East Rock neighborhood, find a bike that has been locked to a stop sign...pull the stop sign out of the dirt and then off you go! Its a no hassle system...when you're finished with the bike, simply give it to one of your friends, sell it on the street for 5 bucks, or the ever popular... toss it into a ditch.

Posted by: charlie | February 7, 2008 2:03 PM

I don't think that system works, Robn.

Posted by: robn | February 7, 2008 5:32 PM

Charlie,

I'm with you in spirit man...just trying to lighten things up a bit. To me, the Zip car concept seems more radical than incremental. It radically changes the spatial and economic impacts of car usage. To me, the fight against the petro-military-industrial complex is a different thing. I think Zip cars is a step in the right direction.

Posted by: DingDong | February 8, 2008 10:53 AM

Zipcar is great not only because it saves lots of urban space that otherwise would go to storing cars (thereby making cities more pedestrian-friendly), but also because it converts the costs of car usage from sunk, mostly invariable costs into almost entirely variable costs - meaning that you can have access to a car without it always being in your economic interest to drive.

Posted by: THREEFIFTHS | February 8, 2008 11:56 AM

Since the american people have a high rate of obesity, How about just walking!!!

Posted by: NLG | February 8, 2008 3:47 PM

I agree with DingDong, ZipCar is inherently a "good" idea, if not a great one for many places and lifestyles (particularly the space saving one!), but I find it to be personally somewhat an economic wash (although the economic benefits to the society as a whole may be significant). I think the initial household economic assumptions really determine the worth of the service to the average person or family. I think ZC is great, should be adopted in New Haven, but I don't see it as a panacea to our transportation (or energy consumption) issues for the average American. I guess I disagree with Mr. Piscatelli (see earlier article), who has much larger hopes for the program in solving NH's transportation needs...

First of all, the people who might choose to patronize a ZipCar or a similar ride-sharing service will most likely NOT actually be those who have large fixed costs attached to transportation. ZC patrons are probably are NOT the type of consumers who drive a luxury or large vehicles, many of which tend to be the least fuel efficient. These consumers have large costs attached to driving a car: monthly payments, insurance, gas, maintenance. But after all, they would not purchase these cars if they did not want to drive them. It should almost be classified as an entertainment cost! We aren't going to get them off the road, and they aren't going to choose ZC as a viable alternative. Secondly, many people/families have large driving needs - even if they do live in the city - because of the way that urban / suburban planning has taken place in this area. They need the flexibility of having a vehicle on hand. The reality is that most people do not carry out the majority of their activities on a hyper-local level anymore. We don't all work where we live.

I would assume that people that MIGHT use Zip Car don't care to spend large amounts of income on their automobiles, and have much lower than average driving needs already. So we are talking about getting cars off the road that are probably generally idle most of the time as is. Still, a good thing for society as a whole.

So putting some numbers to this: Let's assume a family/person owns one car which they drive 100 miles a week (400 / month). We might assume that these consumers have older cars that they probably paid for long ago (so, striking sunk costs). Let's say the drive has a good driving record, among other things, and insurance is $800/year, estimate bare bones maintenance at $600/year. Let's assume the car is pretty efficient, though older - getting about 25 miles to the gallon (see CAFÉ standards): Gas, depending using a current average price in CT of around $3.50/gallon would cost about $56/month (http://www.fuelgaugereport.com/CTmetro.asp). Property taxes in New Haven are pretty steep, so assuming the car is an older average model hopefully about 150$/year. Assume they don't pay to park.

Total monthly cost to drive personal vehicle: $185/month. Cost per mile: $0.46.

SO how does ZC match up? ZC costs 8.50/hour (pre- tax), includes a one-time sign up fee of $25 and an annual fee of 75$. Zip Car limits you to 180 free miles; and a full day rental costs $65. Extra miles are $0.35.

Taking into ZC fees (first year), $185/month translates into about 21 (pre-tax) driving hours per month or just 5 hours per week. (Remember, you pay per/hour...so it costs you even when the car is idle in a parking lot). If you have more than yourself to take care of, that's about an average weekend afternoon of errand running - grocery shopping, laundry - etc, and at least - in the New Haven area may be less than 25 miles of driving total. Assuming this, Cost per mile: $1.85. And what about the other 75 miles a week that consumer is used to driving, at their own convenience? They better have some good friends to take them around...

The only way I can see this working for a family with even basic driving needs is to hope all their other needs can be met right in the immediate area - entertainment, shopping, schools, etc. And day trips? Why? When you can rent a car through the traditional method for under $65 - albeit with more hassle. For me, the economics are not nearly convincing enough to make me give up my car (even with the most minimal needs) until public transportation was much improved, or most of my immediate needs could be met locally, including my ability to see friends and family.

In my opinion, ZC sounds great for people with occasional driving needs, but it would be a hard sell for me, even with minimal, but regular, requirements. Sounds great for students (get them out there, spending their money in the local economy)! It's also great for people who can't afford a car, and this would give them flexibility once in a while. But for people/families with set needs, even minimal? I am not convinced! Maybe if it were $5 an hour...

I have to put this analysis into context, however. Though ZC wouldn't work for me, I see it as a symbol of something good all around for the city, and smart thinking for New Haven's development future. I think it's increasingly important to support out-of-the-box, community-focused programs like ZC, which help make New Haven a citizen-friendly, world-class city. It's the kind of thing that makes me realize that it is increasingly possible - and desired - for people to live, and live well in downtown. Kudos to those who make the effort to bring more development, more jobs, fair taxes, better schools, and so much more to New Haven.

I hope someday that we can all happily give up our cars for good.

Posted by: DingDong | February 8, 2008 9:04 PM

NLG,

I think you agree with me on this, but the idea that many of us have us is to gradually reduce car use. Zipcar allows a family that may have otherwise have had two cars, to own only one; it allows a student who might have brought a car to school not to bring it; it allows younger people to delay the intial purchase of their car. Concurrently, this means that there will be a gradual increase in the amount of people who want to be within walking or cycling distance of services, there will be less urban space dedicated to parking (meaning more pedestrian-friendly space) and there will be more demand for public transportation. I certainly agree that ZipCar is no panacea, but it is one of many, absolutely crucial steps to reduce the auto-dependency of our society (which, let's not be ginger about, given the climate's health is immoral and inexcusable).

See what Philly's done, if anyone is interested: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PhillyCarShare
I think this might the inspiration between Mike Piscitelli's idea.

Posted by: Walt | February 9, 2008 7:06 AM

Sounds good but...

Piscatelli says he does not yet know whether or not the program woul;d be subsidized.

Of course it will.

Every other public transportation service is, and this would be no exception if it ever gets established

Just a month or so ago, we had many posts here by apparent New York big-money earners not happy with the fact that taxpayers pay most of their commuting costs, but demanding that their commute from subsidized parking lots to the train station now become free.

We subsidize the bus system, which is used mostly by low incomers which is OK as I see it but taxpayers paying the fares of New York commuters is a waste,

Does anyone think this new proposal will be self-supporting?

PS to NLG

Good analysis, but I suggest you get your gas somewhere else if you think $3.50 per gallon is the average. About $.35 too high as I read the news.

Posted by: Ned | February 11, 2008 8:06 AM

Unless the Zipcars are outfitted with really loud, obnoxious, buzzy exhaust systems, cheap flashy wheels, and house shaking sound systems and dark tinted windows , I just can't see them becoming popular in New Haven. In addition, each Zipcar would need a good supply of garbage filled, fast food bags (Popeye's, McD's, etc.. - for tossing out the window while you drive. Furthermore, one has to be able to park them on the lawn.

Posted by: NLG | February 11, 2008 4:02 PM

Walt - I listed the gas price source above, which came from average AAA prices in CT (current), with about a 10 cent premium, assuming mid-grade. Prices are steadily climbing, and I am not sure we've seen the entire fallout from the $100/bbl of oil spike in early January.

Ding Dong - I completely agree. I do think ZC and programs like it could really bring back more zeroto 1-car families, among the many other benefits you listed. Personally, I am the kind of person who would LOVE to give up my car, so I wish these kinds of programs were just a little cheaper.

Are there any economic studies being done on this program elsewhere? I haven't looked very hard, but I would be interested to see what kind of data is being collected and the kind of impact they are having on communities.

Posted by: transit user | February 11, 2008 6:48 PM

If you all get Zip Cars you will further avoid
taking city buses with fellow Senator Obama supporters from low income neighborhoods.

Posted by: charlie | February 11, 2008 10:52 PM

The ACTUAL price of gasoline at the point when you pump it -- once you factor in individual taxpayers' funding of federal regulation, pollution cleanup, subsidies for oil companies, etc., is about $22.00 per gallon.

Posted by: Ned | February 12, 2008 8:04 AM

Will Zipcars parked and or operating in New Haven, be taxed like residents cars are? What basis will the Zipcar parking spaces be assessed and taxed at?

Posted by: DingDong | February 13, 2008 9:50 AM

Charlie,

That's interesting. What's your source for that figure?

Posted by: charlie | February 13, 2008 3:09 PM

Here's an outdated source claiming an "actual" cost of over $15.00. The $22 figure is adjusted for the current retail price ($3, not $1) and for inflation on the other elements.

http://www.fuelandfiber.com/Archive/News/Realprice/realprice.html