Flexcar Car Sharing - Innovative Solution to Traffic Congestion and Air Pollution

    SEATTLE--Aug. 6, 2002--Flexcar, the nation's oldest and largest car-sharing company, has been recognized in a Sierra Club report entitled "Smart Choices, Less Traffic."
    The report, which was issued to help communities tackle their transportation challenges, includes a map that highlights the best and worst local plans for alleviating traffic congestion and air pollution. Flexcar was identified as one of the nation's best programs.
    Flexcar's innovative program provides members with access to a fleet of environmentally friendly vehicles, including gas-electric hybrids and electric cars, located throughout selected U.S. metropolitan areas. Members reserve the vehicles for hourly use with Flexcar covering the cost of the car, gas, parking, insurance, and maintenance. Members can pay an hourly or monthly rate for use of the vehicles. Flexcar does not require security deposits or dues to participate in its program. Flexcar now operates car-sharing programs for more than 6,000 members in more than a dozen cities and counties in five states and the District of Columbia.
    "Flexcar expands people's transportation choices while reducing the number of cars on the street. It is an innovative solution to congestion and air pollution that is making an impact today," said Carl Pope, Sierra Club's Executive Director.
    Following a successful European model, Flexcar launched its Seattle operations in 2000, and has since won numerous awards and commendations for its program that reduces congestion, air pollution and energy use, while increasing use of public transportation and contributing to sustainable communities. Used in conjunction with public transit, car/vanpools and walking/biking, car-sharing helps individuals meet their transportation needs in an economic and environmentally responsible manner, giving them the freedom of car ownership without the cost and hassles.
    "It is a huge honor to have been selected from the number of great projects across the country by the Sierra Club," said Neil Peterson, Flexcar's President and CEO. "Judging from the growth of our company and the level of receptivity we're seeing from our members, car-sharing is not just a good idea -- it's becoming a movement. Individuals, businesses and communities are seeing the tremendous benefits of car-sharing programs and weaving Flexcar into the daily routine."
    The "Smart Choices, Less Traffic," report and transportation map is available online at: http://www.sierraclub.org/sprawl/report02.

    Flexcar

    Headquartered in Seattle, Flexcar now operates car-sharing programs for more than 6,000 members in more than a dozen cities and counties in 5 states and the District of Columbia. With flexible pricing plans, members can reserve and drive any of these cars whenever and wherever they need to, without filling out complicated paperwork, paying for insurance, gas or repairs. Flexcar Business Memberships enable companies to augment or replace their fleet with Flexcar vehicles. Flexcar's modern fleet includes sedans, gas-electric hybrids, electric cars and specialty vehicles, including pickups and convertibles. Flexcar has established strategic partnerships with King County (Wash.) Metro, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), Parsons Transportation Group and American Honda Motor Company, Inc.

    Editor's Note: Correct spelling and punctuation is "Flexcar," not FlexCar or Flex Car.