Wednesday 7th December 2011: Transport theme discussion in Penrith
Transport is one of the biggest areas of CO2 emissions. Furthermore our community transport infrastructure is so piecemeal that it is almost impossible to get about in a rural area without a car.
The PACT transport group is actively looking at creative ways of sharing car use and is working to promote a more integrated public-private transport system in the Penrith area.
Proposal to set up a Car Share Club in Penrith
- Car Club for Penrith Project proposal
March 2011: PACT has successfully obtained a Cumbria County Council Neighbourhood Forum grant for £1000 for this feasibility project - the project will be started in April with completion on or before September 2011.
Background - The Opportunity
A Car Club is an organisation that owns cars that are shared by its members. People arrange in advance when they want to use a car, book it, and pay to use it.
The advantage is that members do not have to pay the whole cost of owning a car, but are able to use one when they need to. People are able to hire cars by the hour and can pick up the vehicle from convenient residential locations, exploiting the flexibility offered by smart card technology and online and mobile booking tools.
Each car club vehicle can replace between 8 and 20 private vehicles, relieving pressure on the roads and on residential on-street parking.
Project Proposal
PACT is seeking £1,000 in funding to conduct a feasibility study into the possibility of establishing a community car club in the Penrith area, and linking this with existing plans to develop a network of community car clubs throughout the Lake District.
Benefits / Deliverables
Research has shown that “pay-as-you-go car clubs reduce car use and support other sustainable travel initiatives by plugging gaps in journeys and promoting a shift in long term behaviour”. There would be benefits in the Penrith area for reducing congestion, increasing parking availability, and contributing to reducing carbon emissions through more effective travel.
The proposed project would serve as a major catalyst for increasing options for non-car travel by integrating occasional car use into the wider public and voluntary transport network. Once the project is established it would be entirely self-funding.
Projected Costs
Subject to our sucessful ability to raise funds, we intend to conduct an initial feasibility study, map transport use in the immediate Penrith area and begin to identify and engage with prospective users of the scheme. This will be over a six month period.
If anyone is interested in this, whether as a car user or if you have a car you would like to share. Please contact Michael Hallam mike@threefolding.com