MONTREAL – Montreal is looking into a system of car-sharing similar to the city’s popular Bixi system.
Already available in cities like Paris, Chicago and Vancouver for a minimal sign-up cost of $35, it would allow users to pick up a car anywhere they like and drop it off where they want. Unlike the Communauto car-sharing system already in place in Quebec, users would not have to reserve automobiles in advance, or pay a refundable registration fee of $500 that most Communauto memberships require.
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In Vancouver, the car2go system – available since 2011 – costs 38 cents per minute or $13.99 an hour maximum, parking and fuel included, and has proven popular.
The city of Montreal is setting up public consultations to look into the issue, noting there are issues with parking, competition with taxi companies and the availability of electric cars to look at. Recommendations are expected by June, and if all goes well, it could be in place by the end of the year, although Réal Ménard, executive committee member in charge of transportation, said he was unable to give a set timetable.
Communauto and car2go, which operates 16 such systems worldwide, have expressed interests in becoming the independent operators of the system – Montreal would not be the operator.
The main concern is to offer Montrealers another option to full-time car usage and ease the effects on traffic congestion and the environment, Ménard said. Studies have shown users of car-sharing services either don’t buy vehicles or buy them later in life and use them less, Ménard said.
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