Hour-Car in the News

MNPrius · 11-08-2005, 10:25 PM

Fun article about a car sharing company getting off the ground in Minneapolis. The fleet consists entirely of Priuses. Article can be found

http://www.startribune.com/stories/535/5709669.html

You may have to register to view*. Same company was also profiled in "Angies List". I thought it was pretty cool

* Note from Priuschat: If registration is necessary, try this one - Thanks to Cybele for posting this info and ArtsJournal for providing the generic log-in)

username: ajreader@artsjournal.com
password: access

DaveinOlyWA · 11-08-2005, 10:49 PM

very cool... kind of a twist on the "pick up a hitchhiker in the Bay Area in order to drive the commuter lanes" program...weelll... the program has another name but it escapes me now but i think you might have a good idea about what im refering to.

GreenMachine · 11-08-2005, 10:56 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by MNPrius@Nov 8 2005, 10:25 PM
Fun article about a car sharing company getting off the ground in Minneapolis. The fleet consists entirely of Priuses. Article can be found

http://www.startribune.com/stories/535/5709669.html

You may have to register to view. Same company was also profiled in "Angies List". I thought it was pretty cool

[snapback]152830[/snapback]

Ya know, when you get to thinking about Prius by the hour, it doesn't make a lot of sense.

Seems like it would take way more than an hour or two to start to get the hang of it. Pretty expensive and sophisticated car to have many, not so caring, drivers using it.

(I didn't acutallly read the article since I didnt want to register so I might be missing something)

MNPrius · 11-09-2005, 07:36 AM

GreenMachine - Please note I added PriusChat's generic login, so you could try that if you wanted to read the article. Can't remember if it's there or in the Angies List article that states you have a 1 hour orientation with the car. I agree there could be a bit of a rental car attitude but I think it's more likely that it will be a "co-op" sort of attitude, with people taking some ownership in it. I applaud the innovation.

Jack 06 · 11-09-2005, 08:44 AM

Sounds like one of those neat, well-intentioned Minnesota ideas (and I respect Minneapolis, in particular, as a bastion of Midwestern liberalism) that could be nightmarish to administer.

* some user's late returning the Hourcar---the next user's waiting at the appointed place---all other cars either reserved or too far away---might the current user have gotten confused and left it at another location?---what, they have no cell phone?

* "what, you spilled most of your cappucino on the driver's seat on your way to return the car, and don't have time or the means to clean it up?"

* "you say you can't drive it because someone smoked in it, and you're allergic? and there's chewing gum stuck in the little compartment?"

* "your Rottweiler did WHAT?"

* "you say you didn't need it after all, but a friend did, and you gave her the key, and it turns out the friend doesn't have her license yet and, in fact, wanted to use our car to practice left turns in rush-hour traffic, and...?"

* "you started it up after pressing all those buttons, and now there's a picture of a TRIANGLE on the dash, and exclamation points everywhere?"

spwolf · 11-09-2005, 10:35 AM

Jack, your problems are the same as normal rental company problems, they still have to check car after each rental and wash it.

Nothing that has not been done before...

Jack 06 · 11-09-2005, 10:47 AM

Most car rentals are not done for one and two-hour blocks, and I think multiplying the administration of these things, if a car were to have, say, 3-4 different users in a day, could be problematic.

Then again, I'm always happy to be proven wrong in the service of a good idea.

tideland_raj · 11-09-2005, 06:11 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by MNPrius@Nov 8 2005, 11:25 PM
Fun article about a car sharing company getting off the ground in Minneapolis. The fleet consists entirely of Priuses. Article can be found

http://www.startribune.com/stories/535/5709669.html

You may have to register to view*. Same company was also profiled in "Angies List". I thought it was pretty cool

[snapback]152830[/snapback]

Great to hear!
This sounds very similar to many other car sharing program, lots of whom use the Prius for it's cost effectiveness.

http://www.phillycarshare.org/html/c...emberships.htm
http://www.zipcar.com/
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&q=c...are&btnG=Search

jeromep · 11-09-2005, 07:35 PM

Flexcar is in operation all over selected major population centers around the U.S. I know the Puget Sound area, specifically Seattle has Flexcar operations. I think they have been farily successful.

http://www.flexcar.com/

MNPrius · 11-09-2005, 08:46 PM

Wow - had no idea there were that many other companies out there in major markets. Thanks for the links to flexcar, zipcar etal. I really think it's another wave of the future... despite the valid points that Jack made.

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11-08-2005, 10:25 PM	#1
MNPrius Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Minneapolis Posts: 177 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Fun article about a car sharing company getting off the ground in Minneapolis. The fleet consists entirely of Priuses. Article can be found http://www.startribune.com/stories/535/5709669.html You may have to register to view. Same company was also profiled in "Angies List". I thought it was pretty cool Note from Priuschat: If registration is necessary, try this one - Thanks to Cybele for posting this info and ArtsJournal for providing the generic log-in) username: ajreader@artsjournal.com password: access

11-08-2005, 10:49 PM	#2
DaveinOlyWA 3rd Time was Solariffic!! Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: South Puget Sound, WA Posts: 12,378 My Car: 2010 Prius Model: IV Package: Solar Roof Thanks: 24 Thanked 121 Times in 103 Posts Friends: 10	very cool... kind of a twist on the "pick up a hitchhiker in the Bay Area in order to drive the commuter lanes" program...weelll... the program has another name but it escapes me now but i think you might have a good idea about what im refering to.

11-09-2005, 07:36 AM	#4
MNPrius Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Minneapolis Posts: 177 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	GreenMachine - Please note I added PriusChat's generic login, so you could try that if you wanted to read the article. Can't remember if it's there or in the Angies List article that states you have a 1 hour orientation with the car. I agree there could be a bit of a rental car attitude but I think it's more likely that it will be a "co-op" sort of attitude, with people taking some ownership in it. I applaud the innovation.

11-09-2005, 08:44 AM	#5
Jack 06 Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Winters, CA: Prius capital of US. 30 miles W of Sacramento Posts: 2,567 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Sounds like one of those neat, well-intentioned Minnesota ideas (and I respect Minneapolis, in particular, as a bastion of Midwestern liberalism) that could be nightmarish to administer. * some user's late returning the Hourcar---the next user's waiting at the appointed place---all other cars either reserved or too far away---might the current user have gotten confused and left it at another location?---what, they have no cell phone? * "what, you spilled most of your cappucino on the driver's seat on your way to return the car, and don't have time or the means to clean it up?" * "you say you can't drive it because someone smoked in it, and you're allergic? and there's chewing gum stuck in the little compartment?" * "your Rottweiler did WHAT?" * "you say you didn't need it after all, but a friend did, and you gave her the key, and it turns out the friend doesn't have her license yet and, in fact, wanted to use our car to practice left turns in rush-hour traffic, and...?" * "you started it up after pressing all those buttons, and now there's a picture of a TRIANGLE on the dash, and exclamation points everywhere?"

11-09-2005, 10:35 AM	#6
spwolf Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Eastern Europe Posts: 852 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 6 Times in 6 Posts Friends: 1	Jack, your problems are the same as normal rental company problems, they still have to check car after each rental and wash it. Nothing that has not been done before...

11-09-2005, 10:47 AM	#7
Jack 06 Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Winters, CA: Prius capital of US. 30 miles W of Sacramento Posts: 2,567 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Most car rentals are not done for one and two-hour blocks, and I think multiplying the administration of these things, if a car were to have, say, 3-4 different users in a day, could be problematic. Then again, I'm always happy to be proven wrong in the service of a good idea.

11-09-2005, 07:35 PM	#9
jeromep Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Eastern Washington State Posts: 821 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Flexcar is in operation all over selected major population centers around the U.S. I know the Puget Sound area, specifically Seattle has Flexcar operations. I think they have been farily successful. http://www.flexcar.com/

11-09-2005, 08:46 PM	#10
MNPrius Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Minneapolis Posts: 177 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Wow - had no idea there were that many other companies out there in major markets. Thanks for the links to flexcar, zipcar etal. I really think it's another wave of the future... despite the valid points that Jack made.