Car co-op community driven

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This article was published 14/09/2020 (2044 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Peg City Car Co-op continues to gain traction.

Since its launch in June 2011 with three vehicles, the Winnipeg-based carshare now has a fleet of nearly 60 vehicles. According to its website, the co-op’s mission is to provide a safe, reliable and inclusive carsharing program.

In the spotlight of the launch of a new pilot project that utilizes public parking spaces across the city, Peg City Car Co-op’s fleet manager Will Belford told The Lance that this year has seen record usage of the co-op as more and more Winnipeggers are considering alternative transportation options to personal vehicle ownership.

As well as a fleet of hatchback cars, the co-op offers specialty vehicles that include a number of vehicles for specific uses such as trucks, vans, cargo vans, and SUVs. The fleet includes several vehicles available in St. Boniface locations — including in the parking lot at Université de Saint-Boniface, an on-street location on Hanbury Street, and at the Norwood Hotel.

“We now have more than 2,500 users, some of whom live outside the city,” Belford, who lives in the West End, said. “We can be a convenient option for people who use public transport to visit the city, and then use our vehicles while they’re here.”

In other cases, Belford said, users include members who might have given up their vehicle because it was too expensive or environmentally unsound, and members who may never have owned a vehicle and don’t want to.

He said research shows that 10 to 15 cars are prevented from coming onto the streets with every new carshare vehicle.

“Winnipeg was built for cars, and there are parts of it that are inaccessible without a vehicle because of a lack of transit routes,” Belford said, noting some members go on to become Peg City Car Co-op board members.

“Our model is that of a consumer co-op. We answer to the community, and we’re driven by our members. We conduct surveys, and we have initiatives for our members and the public. We also hold an AGM. It’s a really cool thing.”

The organization offers personal and business memberships, as well as opportunities for local developers to introduce carsharing initiatives to help reduce cost, maximize density and add value for residents of multi-unit developments.

Go online at www.pegcitycarcoop.ca for more information.