A new car club, Streetcar is geared up and ready up to take to the streets of Islington from 1 April 2006. Councillor Bridget Fox, executive member for sustainability says:
"Car clubs are a great alternative for people who need a car occasionally but don't want the expense and hassle of car ownership. Not only are they easier on the pocket but they are better for the environment too!
She added: "I'm pleased with how the car club has started to take off in Islington. We are looking forward to extending the new service and opening the car club up to even more new members."
Car clubs give their members convenient access to a car in dedicated car parking spaces near their home 24 hours a day, seven days a week, without the hassle and expense of traditional car ownership. It's a way of using a car as and when you need to. Members of car clubs pay far lower fixed costs than car owners sometimes saving up to £5,000 a year. Annual membership costs less than a tax disc.
Streetcar member, Jake Courage, says: "I used to own my own car but I was sick of paying to insure and maintain a car I rarely used. I sold my car and joined Streetcar 6 months ago. Now I use the Angel and Islington cars on a regular basis. Streetcar gives me the freedom to go visit relatives in the country, do my weekly shopping or pick up friends from the airport without all the fixed costs and stress of car ownership."
Islington Council and Streetcar aim to expand the network so that all Islington residents are living within five to ten minutes' walk of a car club vehicle. With the new contract, Streetcar's fleet will include over 80 vehicles located across London, including both manual and automatic vehicles.
Brett Akker, Director of Streetcar says: "Streetcar are delighted to be working in conjunction with Islington Council to offer residents environmentally conscious and great value motoring. We look forward to a constructive and long-lasting partnership that will help reduce congestion on the borough's roads, improving the urban environment for all residents."
Cars can be booked online or by phone for up to a month at rates comparable to those of private car hire firms (£35 for a weekday, with 30 miles free each day), and with less administrative hassle and paperwork.
Existing lifetime members of CityCarClub are being offered free lifetime membership of Streetcar (value £25).
Streetcar takes over running Islington's self-service, pay-as-you-go car club from CityCarClub.
To find out more about joining Streetcar please contact the bookings team on 0845 644 8475 or visit www.streetcar.co.uk.
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Page Last Updated: 29 July 2008