摘要: |
Buffalo CarShare (BCS) began operations in June 2009 with 4 vehicles and 30 pioneering members. In the two years since then, the organization has grown to over 400 members and 11 vehicles. Members have made 8,600 trips totaling 32,000 hours and 241,000 miles through August 2011. Based on results of two member surveys conducted in the spring of 2010 and summer of 2011, we have estimated that 109 private cars have been taken off the road, and that our members have avoided using 24,359 gallons of gas since becoming members, have travelled nearly 500,000 less vehicle miles. Unique to the industry, BCS has achieved these environmental accomplishments while serving a diverse membership base in terms of age, race, and income. Nearly two thirds of our members represent households earning $35,000 or less, and half report incomes of less than $25,000. Over the coming years, we hope to continue to broaden our membership base and publicize the results of these efforts so that our success may someday be replicated in Upstate NY cities and other struggling regions. |