A car share program is characterized by self-service, short-term rentals. Instead of picking up and dropping off cars at retail outlets, car share users locate the vehicles at designated parking spots using cellphone apps to check availability and unlock the vehicles. Rentals can be very brief, lasting an hour or less. Car sharing can supplement car ownership, fill public transportation gaps, and reduce traffic congestion.
The basic car share formats are round-trip, station-based or one-way, station-based, where the “stations” are dedicated parking spaces. In round-trip sharing, the user picks up and returns the vehicle to the same location. One-way sharing permits users to return vehicles to assorted sites. In either format, users book cars independently, with the vehicles accessible for use throughout the day, subject to demand by other users.
