PhillyCarShare

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PhillyCarShare logo with motto, "Our wheels. Your freedom."

PhillyCarShare is a non-profit carsharing organization in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The service was launched in 2002. PhillyCarShare has cars available for use 24 hours per day throught the city of Philadelphia. As of September 1, 2006, PhillyCarShare dropped application fees for all their plans and all membership fees for their Basic Freedom plan - members are charged based on time of use and miles driven. Its stated goal is "to maximize the economic, environmental, and social benefits of reduced automobile dependence in the Philadelphia region through community-based car sharing."

The goals of the company is to reduce the number of cars on the road; to promote the use of gas-saving automobiles; reduce pollution; promote a car-free lifestyle and save its members money. In 2006, PCS estimated that it had removed the need for more than 2,100 cars in Philadelphia, saved 440,000 gallons of gas though the use of hybrids and reduced driving; saved each of its members $4,000 and reduced pollution by eliminating 10 million driven miles.^[1]

PhillyCarShare in front of the Rocky Steps

1 Community impact
2 PhillyCarShare Membership Details
3 See also
4 External link
5 References

[edit] Community impact

Its partnership vehicle-sharing program with the City of Philadelphia was named one of 18 national finalists for the Innovations in American Government Awards, which are overseen by the Ash Institute for Democratic Governance and Innovation at Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government. This program allowed city workers to utilize car share cars, and allowed the city to reduce its fleet of underutilized city-owned vehicles.^[2]

[edit] PhillyCarShare Membership Details

Basic Freedom Plan: No monthly/yearly membership. $7.90/hr plus 9¢ a mile. Gas and insurance included.

Advantage Plan: $15/monthly fee. $5.90/hr plus 9¢ a mile. Gas and insurance included.

Corporate Plan: No monthly/yearly membership fees. $5.90/hr plus 9¢ a mile. Gas and insurance included.

9¢ a mile applies to the first 200 miles per 24 hours. Starting at mile 201, within a 24 hour period, the rate goes up to 18¢ per mile. $0 application fee. $0 deposit required. $0 annual dues.

Cars available to all members 24/7 are listed on the Fleet page. Cars include, but are not limited to: Toyota Prius, Mini Cooper, BMW 325i, VW Beetle, Toyota Tacoma, Honda Element, Scion xB; all at the same hourly rate.

PhillyCarShare is the first car sharing organization to allow 18-year-olds access to drive their cars.^[3]