We explore how car-sharing services like Zipcar are changing urban mobility patterns and helping people reduce or eliminate personal car ownership while maintaining flexibility for special trips.

• Car sharing complements public transit with each shared vehicle taking up to 13 privately owned cars off the street
• 83% of Zipcar members don't own cars, and 27% sell their cars within a year of joining
• 63% of car-sharing members are regular transit riders who use cars for occasional needs
• Most common uses: errands (49%), grocery shopping (47%), leaving the city (41%)
• Car sharing fills the gaps in transit systems for bulky purchases, multiple errands, and time-sensitive appointments
• The service differs from ride-hailing by allowing users to keep items in the car between stops
• Car ownership typically costs $500+ monthly, making car sharing a cost-effective alternative
• Car sharing reduces parking demand and helps create more space-efficient cities

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