Car sharing helps to reduce the number of cars on the road and associated greenhouse gases, eases traffic congestion, reduces parking needs, and can save you money. It also encourages you to reduce the number of kilometres driven by substituting the fixed costs of personal car ownership with higher variable costs that are tied to how often you drive. Also, if people are walking, cycling and riding the bus instead, they are more likely to shop locally for basic needs and support neighbourhood stores and services.

These are key benefits, as the number of vehicles on the road continues to grow in Manitoba and across the country. In the 1950s, there was one car for every 5 people in Canada but 30 years later this grew to one car for less than 2 people. Today, there are close to 19 million cars on the road in Canada and 632,000 in Manitoba, not including trucks or commercial vehicles. According to Natural Resources Canada, we have one of the highest ratios of car ownership in the world.

There are no formal car share programs at present in Manitoba although efforts are underway. However, there are small, informal car sharing arrangements that individuals have come to on their own. Consider setting up your own informal car club with friends, neighbours or family members.

This would involve determination of the type of vehicle used, how to schedule bookings, rates to be paid and how to track costs, access to keys, maintenance and cleaning of the vehicle, insurance requirements, and basic rules of conduct. For details, check out the website suggested below.

Tips on setting up an informal car club: www.carplus.org.uk/carclubs/informal.htm

Car Sharing Canada: www.carsharing.ca