Car-Sharing Growing In Atlanta

"Flexcar, a short-term, low-cost car rental service, has proven it can be popular in dense cities where commuters tend to bike to work, like Portland, or use mass transit, like Washington, D.C. But in sprawling Atlanta, where the U.S. Census reported about 80 percent of commuters drive to work alone, the Seattle-based company has taken a gamble- one that, at least in the short term, seems to be paying off."

"Now with about 80 vehicles stationed in spots such as Buckhead and Decatur, the company expects to add 20 more cars in the next two months...Flexcar's fleet here has grown rapidly. The service first came to Atlanta in June 2006 with six cars parked around Emory University's campus. In September, it expanded to about 34 vehicles with locations in Downtown and Midtown."

"The idea is for commuters to take MARTA, walk or bike to work, then use Flexcar if they need to run errands during the day, said residents and business owners who use Flexcar. One of its selling points is that fewer cars on the road means less traffic congestion and lower emissions."

"(Flexcar) drivers reserve a car for a block of time online or with a phone call, usually hours before they expect to use it. Hourly fees range from $6 to $12, depending on when it's rented and the type of car. Fees include the cost of insurance and gasoline, which users buy using gas cards kept in the cars."