Ithaca-based nonprofit launches car-sharing firm

CNY Business Journal (1996+), Jun 13, 2008 by Martino, Kristina

ITHACA - A large local population of people who walk to work, combined with a substantial number of college students, are the two reasons why Jennifer Dotson, executive director of Ithaca Carshare, Inc., says her car-sharing nonprofit will generate a lot of business in its first year.

Ithaca Carshare is a membership-based service that provides 24-hour access to vehicles on an hourly basis. Once registered, a member can reserve a car over the phone when needed.

The nonprofit's six Nissan Versa Hatchbacks and one Ford Ranger pickup truck fleet has not yet hit the city of Ithaca roads, but 50 people have already registered for membership, Dotson says. Every shared car replaces about 15 private automobiles on the road, Dotson says.

"We are not a large city but we are compact and have a lot of people who walk to work. About 40 percent of our work force walks to work," Dotson says. "We have a lot of people who have an occasional need for a car."

Dotson and one pan-time staff member will coordinate the scheduling of cars requested by members. She declined to disclose the location of the office but says it's only a temporary office.

She says the vehicles need branding with Ithaca Carshare logos in the next couple weeks before members can start driving them.

Once on the road, the fleet will be parked in different designated parking spots around the city, Dotson says. Members use the automobile and then return it to the spot where they started.

When registered, members receive a key card that unlocks the car. Gas is included in the hourly price and if needed during the trip, drivers can use a fleetcard that is left in each glove compartment to pay for gas. Members are also covered under Ithaca Carshare's automobile insurance when driving vehicles.

Ithaca Carshare is part of a growing network of independent carsharing organizations with 2,000 vehicles and 75,000 members in more than 36 cities in North America including Chicago, San Francisco, and Montreal, according to the Ithaca Carshare Web site.

Dotson says that the city of Ithaca is the smallest city to launch a carsharing service, but she's optimistic of success mainly because of Ithaca's large population of students and walkers.

"We have a strong downtown and a compact community. What people find is that they aren't needing a car to do groceries or do errands," Dotson says. Members occasionally need a vehicle when they are traveling out of the Ithaca area and are buying products that can't be carried a short distance.

Working in partnership with Cornell University and Ithaca College, Dotson projects that by next year "hundreds" of faculty and students will become members.

Dotson financed the start up of the not-for-profit through Tompkins Trust Company and Alternatives Federal Credit Union. She declined to disclose additional financing information and first-year financial projections. Ithaca Carshare is a member-based nonprofit.

Ithaca Carshare currently offers two types of membership. The "It's My Car" plan requires a $200 membership and then costs $4.95 per hour, 20 cents a mile. Each trip also includes one free hour of travel. "Just in Case" is the most popular plan and costs $50 a year, $7.95 an hour, plus 20 cents a mile, Dotson says.