Strategy : Leave the Car at Home but Still Have One When You Get to the Office

SEATTLE--Aug. 2, 20055, 2005--As gas prices near $3.00 per gallon in many parts of the country, consumers are looking for ways to save money. Many overlook (or avoid) an obvious choice: leaving their car at home and riding the bus or train to the office. At current prices, a 20-mile one-way commute costs individuals close to $200 per month. Add other trips, and the cost nears $500. So why don't more people make the smart choice and switch to public transit? The number one reason is the fear of needing access to a car unexpectedly during the day, such as for a business meeting or family emergency.

But what if consumers could have a car at the office without driving to the office? Would their use of public transit increase and would they save hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars on gas every year?

The answer is yes -- in select metro areas around the country, this is already happening. Thanks to carsharing pioneer Flexcar (www.flexcar.com), tens of thousands of consumers can take the bus, train, or van/carpool to work and still have access to a car during the day. That's because Flexcar parks hundreds of cars at or near commercial buildings, in garages and at transit stations, allowing members in its program to reserve them online and drive them by the hour.

Flexcar, which was founded in 1999 as a joint public-private partnership with King County (Wash.) Metro, has partnered with transit agencies and governments across the U.S. to augment public transportation with its economic and practical carsharing program. These partnerships allow both entities to enjoy increased convenience, more efficient transportation and, ultimately, economic and environmental benefits.

Flexcar parks cars in reserved spots in metro areas. Members go online to reserve a specific vehicle for a specific amount of time. Accessing the car with a credit card-like "FlexCard," members take their trip, return the car and automatically receive a bill at the end of the month. An hourly fee includes gas, insurance, maintenance, 24-7 roadside assistance and the reserved parking spot.

Flexcar has programs and partnerships with transit agencies and governments in Seattle, Portland (Ore.), Washington, D.C., Los Angeles and San Diego. Based on member surveys, Flexcar members report riding transit more often after joining Flexcar, indeed often using transit to access the cars. In addition, nearly 60 percent of Flexcar members report selling or avoiding buying a car as a result of joining the program. A forthcoming Transportation Research Board study will show that carsharing increases the number of people riding transit.

For consumers looking for a way to save money and still have the freedom of owning a car, Flexcar may just be the answer.

In a related announcement, Flexcar today was named a "Best Workplace for Commuters" by the United States Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Transportation.

For more information on Flexcar, contact John Williams at jwilliams@scovillepr.com or 206-829-1392. Representatives of transit agencies/governments in Flexcar regions are available for comment as well -- contact John Williams for information/phone numbers/email addresses.

About Flexcar

Headquartered in Seattle, Flexcar founded the U.S. carsharing industry and now operates carsharing programs for more than 30,000 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 fleet includes sedans, gas-electric hybrids, and specialty vehicles, including pickups, AWD, minivans and convertibles. Flexcar has established strategic partnerships with King County (Wash.) Metro, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), Parsons Transportation Group, American Honda Motor Company, Inc. and Bristol Bay Native Corporation.

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