Flexcar Car Sharing

Carsharing is a great soultion when you only need some wheels just for the day or even a few hours. Traditional car rental can be a hassle – getting to the rental agency, reams of paper work, then returning it to the agency and getting home again. A system of "car-sharing" introduced on Johns Hopkins University Homewood campus in March 2007, streamlines the process of car rental.

Flexcar, which made Baltimore the 10th city in its national "car-sharing" rollout, allows people to rent a car by the hour using only a phone or computer. The rental cars, all fuel-efficient hybrids, are stationed throughout the campus area, where members who have registered and received an electronic keycard can pick them up and drop them off.

Flexcar Pros:

• Rent by the hour.
• Convenient locations.
• Simple rental process.
• Good for the environment.
• 24-hour emergency service.
• Fuel included in the cost.
• JHU students, faculty, staff and Homewood-area residents receive discount.

Flexcar Cons:

• Locations limited to Homewood campus area.
• No choice in types of car.
• Must register in advance.
• Annual fee.
• Day rate pricier than traditional car rental.

How Flexcar Works

Potential users must first register with Flexcar and pay a one registration fee, which may be waived, and an annual membership fee. After 3 -6 business days, members receive a packet that includes a Flexcard key, member number and PIN. Once registered, members reserve a Flexcar vehicle online or by touchtone phone, then use their Flexcard to open the doors.

The fees, which vary depending on whether the member is affiliated with Hopkins or lives near the Homewood campus, range from $6-10 an hour and $60.00 per day. The rate includes gas, insurance, 150 free miles, maintenance, a reserved parking spot and 24-hour emergency service.

The cars are parked at several reserved parking spots around the Homewood campus, , including Wyman Park Drive Reserved Lot, Mattin Center/Power Plant, Tennis Courts Lot and Homewood Field Lot. Homewood Campus Map

Environmental Benefits of Flexcar

The benefit from the environment comes not only from the fact that the cars all hybrids, but the cost structure may make it more affordable than car ownership for some users. According to Flexcar's promotion materials, "members drive about 40 percent fewer miles and increase their use of public transit." "Studies have shown that each shared car has the effect of taking 15 personally owned vehicles off the road," said Davis Bookhart, manager of Energy Management and Environmental Stewardship for JHU's Office of Facilities Management. "Fewer cars means cleaner air and reduced demand for parking."