San Diegans Participate in First-Ever 'Low-Car Diet'

SAN DIEGO--Feb. 1, 2006--County Supervisor Ron Roberts was on hand at a special event today to direct more than a dozen San Diegans as they literally gave up their car by dropping their car keys in a lockbox as part of the first-ever San Diego Low-Car Diet. Sponsored by Flexcar, Metropolitan Transit System, Amtrak, Air Pollution Control District, the American Lung Association and Universal Studios, the participants pledged to use Flexcar and other modes of transportation to get around town for the month of February.

With San Diego having some of the highest insurance and gas prices and some of the worst congestion in the country, people are increasingly looking for alternatives to owning a car, but not at the expense of convenience. San Diego's bus and trolley system can provide that alternative. Walking is another alternative with great health benefits. But there's no doubt, sometimes you just need a car. That's why Flexcar and the partners in this event have combined forces to show the benefits of a low-car diet. It's possible now to just use a car when you truly need one, rather than owning one full time.

"In many ways, Flexcar is like an iPod," said William del Valle, the general manager of Flexcar's San Diego office. "Hardly anyone buys a full CD anymore when you can buy the one or two songs you really like via iTunes. With Flexcar, people only pay for the time they need a car -- about 10 bucks an hour, which includes gas, insurance, parking, maintenance, unlimited miles and 24/7 emergency service."

Low-Car Diet participants will be given 25 hours of free Flexcar use during the month, as well as a transit pass and other "goodies" including 2 roundtrip Amtrak tickets to Los Angeles and free passes to Universal Studios designed to make their month-long car "diet" enjoyable. Should they complete the month without driving their own car, they will be awarded free hours of Flexcar use each month for a year. And if they decide to sell their own car and continue to use Flexcar, they will enjoy savings of up to several hundred dollars per month over owning a personal vehicle.

"For those who have been reluctant to use public transit because they need their car during the work day to travel to and from meetings, Flexcar is the answer," said Roberts. "Now San Diegans can take the bus or trolley to work, knowing that there's an affordable way to get to more places where they want to go."

Part of the appeal of living and working downtown in San Diego is the number of walkable amenities that are prevalent throughout the city. Restaurants, night life, groceries, coffee, and health clubs are all located within arms reach to urban residents. Many find that if they own a car, the expense doesn't pencil out in terms of how often it is used. Add to that an excellent transit system including a trolley system with stops in every downtown neighborhood and the region is ripe for a low-car environment. Fewer cars mean less pollution, less congestion and more room for open spaces -- all highly desired elements in urban planning

Dee Mason, Amtrak's Director of Sales and Marketing added, "Flexcar adds the 'missing link' to seamless travel using rail and car in Southern California. The opportunities for this efficient approach to business travel are endless and serve as an enviable model for other cities.

"Amtrak's Surfliner route, which travels between San Diego and LA, is the second busiest rail corridor in the United States. The addition of Flexcar to that highly traveled route enhances the business travelers' experience immeasurably and Amtrak is pleased to be a partner in this innovative approach to business travel."

Flexcar's innovative program provides its members with on-demand access to a fleet of low emission vehicles, including gas/electric hybrids, pickup trucks and minivans located throughout seven major metro areas, including San Diego, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Portland, Chicago and Washington, D.C. It is the only carsharing service with operations throughout the state and up and down the West Coast.

More information on Flexcar is available online at www.flexcar.com/sandiego or by calling 619-262-FLEX (3539).

About Flexcar

Flexcar founded the U.S. car-sharing industry and now operates car-sharing programs for about 35,000 members in seven metropolitan areas, covering 37 cities in 6 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. AOL Founder Steve Case and auto industry legend Lee Iacocca are board members and investors/owners of Flexcar.

About Amtrak

Amtrak provides intercity passenger rail services to more than 500 destinations in 46 states on a 22,000-mile route system. For schedules, fares and information, passengers may call 800-USA-RAIL or visit www.amtrak.com.

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