Car co-op researchers impressed, plan their own

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Car-share researcher Bruce Berry (right) finds many people are sold on the idea.

WINNIPEG could have its first official car-share up and running by next year after a group studying the idea decided to take on the project themselves.

Groups that let people own shares in a vehicle or rent cars for short jaunts are popular in a number of Canadian cities, but nothing formal exists in Winnipeg.

Last year, a group of green-minded volunteers used a $10,000 provincial grant to study whether a car-share could work in Winnipeg. The results were so encouraging, they decided to start their own.

"It was just way beyond what we had hoped, actually," said Bruce Berry, who helped with the study.

More than 500 interested Winnipeggers filled out a car-share survey, far more than researchers hoped for.

"We were pleased, and in terms of talking to others outside of our city, they were astonished," said Beth McKechnie, who works on green commuting projects for Resource Conservation Manitoba. "They thought that we had an incredible response."

Most of the people who responded were between the ages of 25 and 34, and more than half had post-secondary education. That might not seem important, but McKechnie said post-secondary education is a common trait among car-share users in other places.

The group plans to develop the car-share as a co-op model, similar to programs in other cities.

The car-share will likely start in Osborne Village, where the higher population and education level make the area a good fit, McKechnie said.

The group is working out how the co-op will be structured and, more importantly, where they'll get funding. Based on their research, McKechnie said finding parking spots will be another challenge.

The group hopes the car-share will be up and running within a year. "There seems to be such momentum and interest that I feel encouraged that this might be possible," McKechnie said.

Berry said he was encouraged by the city's request this month that a would-be condo developer in Osborne Village start a car-share to compensate for a parking shortage.

"It's the kind of thing that hopefully there will be more of," he said.

The results of the study will be published online at www.wpgcarshare.org, and anyone looking for more information can email wpgcarshare@mts.net.

lindsey.wiebe@freepress.mb.ca

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition May 22, 2009 B2