Car sharing comes to Portland

Casco Bay Island residents who juggle an island car, a mainland car, and high parking fees may find some relief in the introduction of a car share service to downtown Portland.

U Car Share, operated by U-Haul, is comprised of four Chrysler PT Cruisers available for hourly and daily rental. Two of the vehicles are parked at 4 Elm Street, adjacent to the public library, and two at 46 Commercial Street, across from the Casco Bay Lines terminal. The Commercial Street location was chosen for its proximity to the terminal in order to allow for use by peninsula and island residents.

Car sharing differs from regular car rental in the length of rental term and the location of the transaction. Rather than picking up a car at an airport or company office, car share members reserve cars parked in dedicated spaces and gain access with membership cards.

U Car Share works like many other services of its kind (including Zipcar, which operates in more than 50 cities and 100 universities across the United States). Once an account is set up, members reserve a car online or over the phone, arrive at the vehicle at the time of the reservation, swipe the membership card, and find the keys to the vehicle waiting inside. The rental fee is charged to the member’s credit card, and includes gas and insurance. Members are expected to use a company gas card to refill the gas tank when it dips below ¼ full. With U Car Share, which now also operates in Madison, Wis., Berkeley, Calif., and Portland, Ore., all members pay a one-time $50 application fee but no annual fee for membership.

For islanders whose mainland cars spend much of the year sitting in rented parking spaces, a reliable and affordable car share service could mean significant savings. According to AAA, the average annual cost of owning a compact car is $6,000. The option of renting a car only when it’s needed, rather than paying for an additional car to sit idle much of the time, appeals to some residents. It takes some calculation, however, to determine whether or not a family will save by using the service, depending on how often they drive. Members who don’t find it cost-effective to pay U Car Share’s regular hourly or daily rates ($9.50 per hour or $66 per day) can opt for a monthly fee in exchange for lower fees per rental.

Availability is also a factor-a family giving up an extra car in favor of reliance on a car share service would have to know they could get a car when they need one. Fortunately, according to Michael Colman, program manager for U Car Share, expansion of the Portland fleet is possible. “The city of Portland and the community in general has been very supportive of the program,” Colman says. “Each week, membership grows and so does the number of reservations. As membership and vehicle usage continues to grow, we would definitely look into adding more cars and locations.”

Sarah Cushman, transportation consultant and lead organizer of Portland’s Green Streets alternate transit initiative, points out that a car share service has been a long time coming for area residents attempting to eliminate an extra car. “Maine families who can cut back from two cars to one can save a bundle while helping the environment,” Cushman says. “We have a long way to go yet, but people are walking and biking more, thanks to the work of the City, Portland Trails, and activist groups like the Bike-Ped Committee and the Portland Bike Commuter Meetup. Ridership is up on local buses-METRO, South Portland Bus Service, Zoom/Shuttlebus-and the Downeaster, too. GOMaine’s carpool and vanpool numbers have also jumped significantly.”

“A car share has been the one major missing link-access to a vehicle for trips that can’t be covered on foot or with public transportation is critical in allowing local residents to get around without owning that extra car.”

UCar Share’s vehicles became available in Portland in mid-January and the company is, according to Cushman, “working out the kinks in the system-coordinating between the national office and the local U-Haul service center, getting the reservation system working smoothly, and moving the cars back and forth to the U-Haul lot during parking bans.”

“The service exists now,” Cushman says, “which is incredibly exciting. If people sign up as members and start using the vehicles, and we build the critical mass of car share users, then the program will be here for the long term.”