Flexcar Receives ''Clean Air Award'' from South Coast Air Quality Management District; Nation's First ''Clean Mobility Center'' Lauded for Its Environmental Benefits

    LONG BEACH, Calif.--Oct. 16, 2002--Flexcar, the nation's largest provider of car-sharing services, has received a Clean Air Award for "Innovative Transportation Project" from the South Coast Air Quality Management District for its car-sharing service in Long Beach.
    In partnership with the Bikestation Coalition and WestStart, the advanced transportation technologies consortium, Flexcar is part of the nation's first "Clean Mobility Center," which offers hourly use of electric bikes, scooters and cars as well as other mobility services, like valet bicycle parking accessible to public transit.
    Flexcar's innovative program provides members with access to a fleet of environmentally-friendly vehicles, including gas-electric hybrids and light pickup trucks, located in metropolitan areas across the country. 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's program has already been shown to reduce vehicle miles traveled, increase ridership of public transit, and resulted in members either selling an existing car, or avoiding buying one. Combined with the electric vehicles at the Bikestation Long Beach, the impact on the environment is even more significant.
    "We are proud to be honored by the AQMD for our partnership with the Bikestation and WestStart," said Michael Woo, general manager of Flexcar's Los Angeles regional office. "We are part of a mobility mosaic, in which people can have the option to choose the mode of transportation that is appropriate for the trip -- walk, bike, drive or use transit. The immediate and the long term benefits are cleaner air and more sustainable communities."
    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.

    Flexcar

    Headquartered in Seattle, Flexcar now operates car-sharing programs for more than 7,500 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, Kitsap County (Wash.) Transit, 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.

    Bikestation Coalition

    Open since 1996, Bikestation Long Beach is one of three bike-transit centers operating in California. The purpose of the public facility is to provide convenient services that encourage bicycling and mode shifts to other clean forms of transportation including transit, walking, and vehicle-sharing. In addition to offering secure bicycle parking to commuters, Bikestation Long Beach offers automated bicycle lockers for after-hours storage, bike repairs and accessory sales, changing room and education/safety programs.

    Weststart

    WestStart is a non-profit, fuel-neutral consortium of over 150 participants worldwide. It is dedicated to developing an advanced transportation technology industry that will result in improved air quality and greater energy efficiency on a global basis. WestStart's primary role is to catalyze and support the industry with key services that bring people, technologies and resources together to bridge the gap between technology development and the marketplace. WestStart is pursuing new directions in intermodal transportation planning through the integration of car sharing, electric bike and scooter systems with public transit. These services are designed to help commuters, downtown workers, and residents make clean efficient trips around the city, relieve parking congestion, and reduce traffic

    Air Quality Management District

    AQMD is the air pollution control agency for all of Orange County and the urban portions of Los Angeles, Riverside and San Bernardino counties.