Car Clubs
Facts and statistics

Europe

Switzerland’s country-wide ‘Mobility’ car club developed from two co-operatives founded in 1987. Today it employs over 90 staff and serves around 52,000 members.

A 1995 survey of Swiss car sharers found that for every 5 people who joined Mobility one privately owned car was replaced and 28,000 fewer car-miles were driven.

Research into Berlin’s Stattauto scheme found that before joining, members were travelling an average of 5425 miles per year by car. As car club members, their ‘travel awareness’ increased and their car mileage halved. This reduction in car use produced a 28% increase in walking and cycling and a 35% increase in use of public transport.

UK

There are now 1000 car clubs in the UK with 28,000 members.

An area the size of Leicestershire is now taken up by roads, with a fifth as much land given over to parking. source: DfT

If all the cars in Britain in 98/99 were lined up head to tail they would go twice round the world. source: National Travel Survey 98/00

Road traffic grew by 73 per cent between 1980 and 2002. source: DfT Transport Trends 02

Road traffic in Britain is forecast to increase by up to 48 per cent by 2026. source: DETR

Traffic congestion is projected to grow by 65 per cent overall by 2010. source: Commission for integrated Transport

The health impacts of traffic pollution cost the UK £11.1bn each year. source: Environmental Transport Association

Over 80% of motorists are concerned about pollution and traffic congestion and 92 percent agree that cars are harmful to the environment. source: LEX

Last updated 14th January 2008