8 November 2010
Welcome for Scottish Government scheme to expand car clubs to rural areas
Transform Scotland [1] has today (Monday 8th) welcomed the Scottish Government announcement of funding for the creation of car clubs in rural areas. [2] The announcement follows the recommendations of Transform Scotland Trust [3] research published in September this year. [4]
Colin Howden, Director of Transform Scotland, said:
"Car clubs are a low cost way to cut emissions from the transport sector. [5] They also bring financial benefit as members of car clubs can save between £1,000 and £3,500 per year over the cost of car ownership. [6]
"Edinburgh's car club was the first in Britain, and we are pleased that City Car Club have recently been able to expand its operations into Glasgow. [7] Car clubs should be the norm across all urban areas.
"We are pleased that the Scottish Government has followed the recommendations of our research and agreed to put in place the modest investment required to expand car clubs into rural areas."
ENDS
Notes to Editors
[1] Transform Scotland
Transform Scotland is the national sustainable transport alliance, bringing together rail, bus and shipping operators, local authorities, national environment and conservation groups, businesses and local transport groups - see <http://www.transformscotland.org.uk/members.aspx> for details.
[2] Transport Scotland news release on car clubs
See <http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/news/Car-club-schemes-awarded-funding>.
[3] Transform Scotland Trust
The Transform Scotland Trust was established to carry out research and educate the public about transport's impact on the economy, environment, and society as a whole – <http://www.transformscotland.org.uk/trust.aspx>. The Trust is chaired by Stephen Stradling, Professor Emeritus at Edinburgh Napier University's Transport Research Institute.
[4] Transform Scotland Trust report 'Developing Car Clubs in Scotland'
The report is available at <http://www.transformscotland.org.uk/GetFile.aspx?ItemId=279>.
The report was the output of a project funded by three regional transport partnerships (SEStran. SPT and TACTRAN) and by Co-operative Development Scotland. It also received in-kind support from Hitrans, First ScotRail and the Scottish Government. The project held stakeholder workshops in Glasgow, Perth, Linlithgow and Inverness, before a concluding session hosted by the Scottish Government at its HQ in Leith. See <http://www.transformscotland.org.uk/carclubsreview.aspx> for details.
[5] Climate change emission savings from car clubs
A "national network of car clubs" was identified in research published by the Scottish Government in August 2009 as being one of the most cost-effective measures for reducing climate change emissions from the transport sector. The research, by Atkins and The University of Aberdeen, 'Mitigating Transport's Climate Change Impact in Scotland: Assessment of Policy Options', is available at <http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2009/08/26141950/11>.
[6] Financial benefits of car club membership
Research for Transport for London, supported by evidence from a community-based car club in the north of Scotland, shows that members of car clubs can on average save between £1,000 and £3,500 per year. Transport for London's research, Attitudes towards Car Clubs (Synovate, April 2007). Evidence from Park Carpool, Findhorn <http://www.transformscotland.org.uk/carclubsreview.aspx>.
[7] Edinburgh City Car Club
City Car Club in Edinburgh has over 3,500 members and 100 cars. It has on street locations throughout the city serving residents, small businesses and providing pool cars for council staff. See <http://www.citycarclub.co.uk/> for full details.
END OF NEWS RELEASE