Car-sharing program saves gas, money
11:17 PM 1/05/04
Fred McKissack Wisconsin State Journal

When Bruce Chevis wants to run an errand during the weekday, he walks from his office at the Department of Natural Resources over to the Brayton Lot. <

There, he slips into a Honda Civic, four-door, gas-electric hybrid. It's not exactly his car, but one owned by Community Car, a per-hour car-sharing service that began operating in October and now has three vehicles and 30 members. <

Chevis and his wife, Patricia, charter members of Community Car, are planning a trip to Ireland this year with the money they made from selling two automobiles and continue to save by owning just one vehicle and using the service. <

Community Car - which is holding a series of public information meetings this month, including 7 p.m. today at the Wil-Mar Neighborhood Center, 953 Jenifer St. - is the vision of Sonya Newenhouse. She is president of Madison Environmental Group and founder and vice president of Community Car. <

"It's not meant for everyone," says Newenhouse, a 13-year Madison resident who moved here to attend graduate school at UW-Madison. "We're trying to market to people who live or work near Downtown, who are contemplating a second car purchase or people who are considering buying a new car." <

Newenhouse says Community Car members save as much as $500 a month on a new car, which includes car payment, gas, insurance, maintenance and parking. The cost of Community Car is a $50 application fee, which includes a motor vehicle check and processing, and a basic rate of $15 per month. Car use costs $4.50 per hour and 40 cents per mile. The charge includes gas, insurance, maintenance and 24-hour assistance. <

Chevis, who lives on Madison's West Side, says he spends about $35 a month on the program. It has been a useful organizing tool, he says. <

"We plan ahead. Instead of taking a bunch of trips, I'll take one. It's very easy to use," he says, adding he likes the lessened environmental impact from grouping his trips. <

The company plans on having 10 cars by next October, with the aim of having a car available every quarter- to half-mile throughout the city. The cars are currently at the Monroe Street Library, 1705 Monroe St.; at 10 E. Doty St.; and at the corner of Williamson and Baldwin, near the Willy Street Co-Op. <

The system is simple to use: Members can reserve a car online or by phone. They use a key code to access a lock box near the car and retrieve a key. The driver enters the car and logs the beginning time and miles and does the same when returning the car to its parking spot. The participant's credit card is billed for car usage at the end of each month. <

Theft? Newenhouse says she's not worried about it, primarily because she believes in the fundamental decency of people. Plus, in the 10,000-member network of car-share programs around the United States, including Seattle, Boulder, Colo., and Boston, there has only been one reported case of theft since 1998. <

"It's the perfect second car for families who are trying to cut out costs," says Newenhouse, adding that other potential consumers include students, small businesses and non-for-profit groups that can't afford a fleet of cars. Growing numbers of people moving to Downtown condominiums also may be attracted to the program, she says. <

The epiphany for Newenhouse came about in the fall of 2000 as Madison Environmental Group was researching alternative transportation options at a time when the company was working on a climate outreach project. A friend from Portland sent Newenhouse a copy of a story in the Portland Oregonian newspaper detailing that city's car-share program, Flexcar. <

"I saw the article and realized this is what we've been looking for," she says. <

A feasibility study, half of which was funded by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, was undertaken in the fall of 2001 and completed by October 2002. The study showed that a majority of people surveyed, 62 percent of the random sample and 92 percent of the targeted respondents, thought that car-sharing was either somewhat or very appealing. <

Newenhouse realized she had a good idea and formed Community Car. The group has two employees: Jay Ferm, president, and Amanda White, members and community relations coordinator. Investors include Newenhouse and Ferm, as well as local business and environmental leaders. Lenders are Madison Development Corp. and Town Bank. <

Newenhouse also credits the UW-Madison Business School, which aided in developing strategies and finding contacts in the insurance industry. White says UW Transportation Demand Management also has worked closely with company in bringing the concept to the university. <