Car Sharing Policy
Please Note: the exhibition period for this item has now closed.
In late 2007, Council resolved to trial the promotion of car sharing by providing dedicated on-street parking for car share vehicles. The two-year trial period has now expired, and Council has resolved to exhibit a formal Car Sharing Policy.
The Report to Council’s Planning Development and Transport Committee meeting of 11 October is available here.
Background
The promotion and expansion of car sharing is a key initiative to support the transport
goals of the City’s Sustainable 2030 vision. Car sharing is fundamentally an enabler of more sustainable transport habits – it provides regular walkers, cyclists and public
transport users with convenient access to a vehicle only when it is needed.
The growth of car sharing in the City’s area has been extremely rapid. Since 2007, the City has installed more than 190 dedicated car share spaces, catering for approximately 4,000 City residents and 500 City-based businesses. Membership is growing by some 180 residents a month.
International evidence has continued to accumulate demonstrating that increased use of car sharing reduces total urban driving, reduces household vehicle holdings, and increases walking, cycling and public transport use.
It is estimated that the car sharing program has taken at least 550 cars off City streets and reduced on-street parking demand by at least 250 spaces compared to business as usual.
The draft Car Sharing Policy maintains the key aspect of the City’s trial: dedicated car share spaces; stringent eligibility requirements for car share operators; and close monitoring of usage patterns to ensure that on-street spaces are managed in the public interest. The Policy also formalises the eligibility of car share vehicles for resident parking permits, as established by clause (e) of the resolution of Council of 29 October 2007.
The City has provided significant in-kind support to car share operators during their early growth. It is proposed that installation costs for car share spaces will be met in part or full by these companies from Financial Year 2011-12, and annual parking permit fees will continue to apply to these vehicles. No rental fee is proposed for these spaces on the grounds that they are used principally by City residents.
Many high quality public transport networks in Europe have integrated car sharing programs with public and active transport. The draft Policy proposes to examine opportunities to achieve greater integration of car sharing with public transport, walking and cycling, and to conduct further research into the impacts of car sharing on travel patterns. Investigations are also proposed to include the potential for car sharing in promoting the uptake of electric and low-emission vehicles.
On Exhibition
The exhibition period closed Friday 26 November 2010.
Submissions
Submissions closed Friday 26 November 2010.
More Information
For more information on the draft Car Sharing Policy contact:
Anthony Mifsud
Transport Policy Analyst
Tel: 02 9265 9529
Email: amifsud@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au
Download
- Draft Car Sharing Policy | PDF 72Kb
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Last Updated: Monday 29 November, 2010
