| The ZEDcars Car
Club, based at the Beddington Zero Energy Development (the UK’s
largest eco-housing project) has already proved popular with residents,
and from this month will start to offer its services to the wider
community.
ZEDcars is run in partnership
by local environmental organisation BioRegional Development Group
and national car club operator Smartmoves. The club offers members
all the benefits using a car when they need to, without having to
own a vehicle themselves. Some BedZED residents have sold their
privately owned cars in favour of joining the car club. They use
public transport for everyday journeys but have the option of a
car when they really need one – a much better deal for the
environment too!
Start-up funding for the project
was provided through the Social, Economic and Environmental Development
(SEED) Programme, working in partnership with the New Opportunities
Fund5 through their Green Spaces and Sustainable Communities initiative.
ZEDcars has been running for 10 months and now has over 30 members.
The club offers reliable, modern cars to local residents and businesses
without the hassle or overheads of car ownership. The ZEDcars Vauxhall
fleet operates from the BedZED development located on London Road,
Hackbridge. Car club members book cars by the hour or for longer
hires. A flexible booking system allows members to book cars by
phone, over the internet or via the in-car communications system,
from a few minutes to a few weeks in advance.
Car clubs bring environmental
benefits – the resources such as metal and rubber that make
a car are shared between a large number of people. Additionally
because there are no overhead costs such as insurance, tax or MOT,
members simply pay for the time and distance that they use. This
means they are more likely to use public transport when it is convenient
thus reducing pollution and the number of cars on our roads.
Although relatively new to the
UK, the car club concept is already well established in continental
Europe where thousands of members share hundreds of cars. ZEDcars
vehicles are fitted with an in-car communications system, Drive-IT,
already widely used in Scandinavia. Members use a smart card to
access the cars. Inside each car, mobile phone technology communicates
with the car club operations centre, letting members know how long
they have left on a booking and how far they have travelled. It
also allows members to make or extend bookings from the car.
Chas Ball Managing Director of
Smartmoves commented on the scheme:
“We’re pleased to be partners with BioRegional. Our
aim is to give people the choice not to own a car but to have access
through a pay-as-you-drive scheme. We’re keen to add other
benefits for members to enhance their mobility.”
Some quotes that have been made by ZEDcars
car club members include:
‘I do more cycling,
walking and use the bus and train more. The car is no longer the
default option, but is there when public transport is difficult
or impossible.’
‘…gorgeously
well-kept smooth running vehicles, without any of the maintenance
hassles.’
ZEDcars are looking for new members
who live or work close to BedZED. If you would like to find out
more
or to request membership details please call or e-mail
Chris : 0845 3303 920 londonsouth@smartmoves.co.uk
Look out for car club promotions
at Hackbridge train station during the next few weeks!
Notes
Smart Moves Ltd is a specialist
car club operator. It currently runs car clubs in Edinburgh and
Bristol and provides "back office" services from its offices
in Huddersfield and Coventry. The Edinburgh City Car Club, which
Smart Moves re-launched in October 2001, uses the same technology
as ZEDcars and now over 100 members. Smart Moves is working with
local authorities, housing associations, developers and local residents
who support practical transport alternatives to private car ownership.
Press contact: Managing Director, Chas Ball: 01484 483061 or 07970
666146
Email: info@smartmoves.co.uk
4 SEED Programme: In September
2000 the New Opportunities Fund, a National Lottery ‘good
cause’ distributor, appointed theRoyal Society for Nature
Conservation (RSNC) as an Award Partner in its Green Spaces and
SustainableCommunities funding programme. Through this, RSNC’s
Social, Economic and Environmental Development. (SEED) Programme
is distributing £15.3million in lottery funding.
The New Opportunities Fund distributes National
Lottery money to health, education and environment projects across
the UK. The Fund works with national, regional and local partners
from the public, private and voluntary sectors to fund initiatives,
with particular focus on the needs of those who are most disadvantaged
in society.
Press Contacts: New Opportunities Fund press office: 020 7211 1888,
mobile: 07867 500 572.
Website: www.nof.org.uk.
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