[FLPERMACULTURE] Ithaca Carshare Accepting Enrollments

[Michael Burns]

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From:    "Ithaca Carshare - Jennifer" <jennifer at ithacacarshare.org>
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Ithaca Carshare is accepting applications bringing months of planning to
fruition. The local nonprofit will provide members self-service 24-hour
access to cars and a pick-up truck by June. Carshare members will use an
online reservation system to choose the vehicle they need, the time they
need it, and where they can pick it up.

“We’re very excited to finally be able to accept enrollments,” said
executive director Jennifer Dotson. Ithaca Carshare has had to overcome
two major setbacks. Getting reasonable rates on insurance has been
difficult, explained Dotson, and, in late 2007, a collaboration with a
national carsharing firm fell through when the firm was sold.

The carshare service continued to seek affordable insurance and now has
excellent coverage for both college students and the general public. An
alliance with other independent carshares around the country and in
Canada, as well as being able to tap into a proven Internet-based
reservation system, has helped Ithaca Carshare go forward on its own,
said Dotson. Strong support from local partners, including Cornell,
Ithaca College, the City of Ithaca, Tompkins County, and EcoVillage at
Ithaca, plus from the New York State Energy Research and Development
Authority in Albany, has also kept the carshare momentum going.

The service will offer two membership plans, one called “Just in Case,”
for the person who has occasional use for a car or truck; and “It’s My
Car,” which caters to drivers who are looking for a way to replace car
ownership or the need to own a second car. Membership fees start at $50
a year, then members pay an hourly and per mile charge that covers all
other costs, including gas and insurance, according to Dotson. To
encourage local residents to sign up early, the organization is
currently discounting their application fee from $30 to $15.

Ithaca Carshare anticipates that vehicles will be available by June 1 in
the downtown area on Seneca at Cayuga (in front of Dewitt Mall), Cayuga
at Farm (near Gimme! Coffee); in Collegetown on College at Dryden; on
the Cornell campus on Tower Road at Garden and near the Dairy Bar; at
Ithaca College; and at EcoVillage. Most of the cars will be new Nissan
Versa hatchbacks, with one Ford Ranger pickup truck.

David Lieb, Assistant Director of Transportation for Cornell University,
is working on a way for Cornell staff and students who ride the bus to
work to get a break on Ithaca Carshare membership fees. “With
carsharing, staff and students who commute by bus or carpool will get
access to a car parked very conveniently on campus,” said Lieb.

Strong early enrollment will help the organization the sooner the
vehicles can be purchased and placed at their locations, said Dotson.
Enrollment information is posted on the Ithaca Carshare website at
www.ithacacarshare.org <http://www.ithacacarshare.org/>.

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-- 
Jennifer Dotson
Executive Director
Ithaca Carshare, Inc.
www.ithacacarshare.org          (607) 229-3210
P.O. Box 418, Ithaca, NY  14851-0418

24/7 access to a fleet of vehicles on a per-hour basis
a locally controlled service
enhancing community access to transportation
while reducing negative environmental and economic impacts

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