Car club membership approaching 14,000 in Wandsworth

Almost 14,000 bling to shared car schemes in Wandsworth, which lays claim to having London’s highest level of car club membership.

The council said that car club members tend to drive only when they really need to – much less than car owners – therefore having a club in the borough helps cut overall car use.

Four car club operators - Enterprise Car Club, Co-wheels, Ubeeqo and Zipcar - are currently partnering with Wandsworth Council.  They provide cars in dedicated bays throughout the borough, which means most residents in the borough will find a car nearby.

The council’s transport spokesman: Jonathan Cook, said: “I’m delighted that Wandsworth residents are leading the way in car club membership, and encourage local people who haven’t yet tried the service to give it a go.

“Car clubs reduce total vehicle use and take older, more polluting cars off the road, while still giving people the access to transport that they need. Using car clubs is a positive change many of us could make, alongside the measures the council is already taking to improve air quality in the borough.”

Shared transport charity Carplus estimates that for every vehicle used in a car-sharing club, 10 privately owned vehicles are taken off the road. The benefits of car club membership include the reduction in overall driving rates, the easing of congestion and helping to improve air quality.