Blog Post
Thanks for the Tough Love, Stonefly Volunteers
Last Saturday, while many of us were snuggled up and reading, doing chores around the house, or finding some other indoor activity to avoid the 3-16 ℉ (-16 – -8 ℃) temperatures outside, 130 cheerful HRWC volunteers headed out to the river and creeks for our annual Stonefly Search.
Our sturdy volunteer teams collected stoneflies from 40 sites! Despite cold temps, we had a very successful year. When we say we have the best volunteers, we are 100% serious. Special thanks to all those who participated.
Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 28, 2007
CITY CARSHARE SUPPORTS SAN FRANCISCO BAG BAN BY OFFERING SHARED REUSABLE GROCERY BAGS IN ITS FLEET
(San Francisco, November 28, 2007) City CarShare, the Bay Area’s non-profit, community-based car sharing service, is supporting San Francisco’s new ban on plastic grocery bags by placing sturdy, reusable cloth bags in its vehicles. Members are encouraged to “Share the Car, Share the Bag” by using the bags while shopping and, then, returning the shared bags to any City CarShare car, putting them back into circulation.
“Helping to improve the environment and quality of life in the Bay Area requires visionary leadership, and we applaud the City of San Francisco for championing the ban on plastic bags,” commented City CarShare CEO Rick Hutchinson. “Sharing saves resources so providing easy access to eco-friendly, reusable bags in our shared vehicles makes sense. As our members are finding, sharing is not only good for the environment, but it builds a real sense of community, as well.”
Data from the San Francisco Department of the Environment and the Worldwatch Institute state that about 180 million plastic shopping bags are distributed in San Francisco each year. Approximately 774,000 gallons of oil are needed to produce these non-degradable bags. City CarShare bags are reusable and free to share by members. “I commend City CarShare as one of the leading organizations in San Francisco that demonstrates how we can change our lifestyle to better our communities. By placing reusable grocery bags in their entire fleet, they aremaking it easy for their members to make a smooth transition into an important new era. Once again, City CarShare is demonstrating that it is committed to a mission shared by all of us — cleaner, healthier, more livable communities”, said San Francisco Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi in response to the program.
The “Share the Car, Share the Bag” program is initially available in San Francisco, but will be expanded to other Bay Area communities in the near future. At least three cloth bags have been placed in each car. After members are done using the bags, they may return it to their current vehicle — or to any other City CarShare vehicle — at a later time. City CarShare will replace bags in cars as needed.
City CarShare is the oldest non-profit car-sharing organization in the United States, serving over 15,000 members since it was launched in 2001. A more affordable, greener way to drive, City CarShare members will help save 15 million pounds of greenhouse gas emissions this year. Offering a choice of hybrids, compacts, pick-up trucks, and stylish Mini Coopers to its individual and business members, City CarShare offers 230+ vehicles in more than 110 Bay Area locations. For more information, and to become a member, visit citycarshare.org or call (415) 998-8588.
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For more information: Anita Daley, City CarShare, 415-995-8588 x317
Article (San Francisco Relocation Guide)
Freedom made affordable
by Anita Daley, City CarShare
On average, most cars nationwide are driven 66 minutes per day.[i] When you factor in expenses for these underutilized assets such as gas, insurance, parking, maintenance, and car payments, it is easy to see why urban dwellers are shedding their cars in favor of car sharing.
What is Car Sharing?
Car sharing is a service that allows members to drive a car when they need one without the stress, expense and hassle of owning a car. It is a growing mobility trend that serves an alternative transit option for those who don’t need a car everyday.
Car sharing provides members with 24/7 access to a fleet of conveniently located, unattended vehicles for hourly (and sometimes mileage) rates. Gas, insurance and maintenance are always included with the service.
Launched in 1987 in Switzerland and then in Germany the next year, car sharing arrived to the U.S. via Portland in 1998. Here in the San Francisco Bay Area, car sharing was introduced in March 2001 by a nonprofit organization called City CarShare. As one of the first mission-based car share organizations in the U.S., City CarShare helped a handful of other cities start car sharing by donating technology and expertise. Today, there are over 30 independent locally operated car share organizations throughout North America, as well as larger for-profit entities.
How it Works
Car sharing technology makes the service very easy to use. Once signed up, members get an electronic key called a fob that is theirs to keep. Whenever they want to use a car, they reserve one (online or by phone,) access the car with their fob, and go. A member can pick any available car in a fleet and reserve it for hourly use, as long as it is needed. When the member is done with her trip, she returns the car to its home (pod), leaving it for the next member. A truly successful car share vehicle has a high rate of turnover.
Car share providers have many different types of vehicles so members can match a car type with their trip. Examples include hybrid sedans, compacts and wagons. Some even have pick up trucks and passenger vans. (City CarShare has a wheelchair accessible van in the East Bay near the downtown Berkeley BART station.)
Making Cities Better Places to Live
Car sharing is great for cities. Socially responsible car share providers exist to decrease car ownership and traffic congestion, with the ultimate goal of creating healthier cities with more available space for parks and housing. As more people car share instead of owning a car, the need for parking decreases, which frees up valuable space. When members car share, they walk, bike and use public transit more—and drive less.[ii] This helps to improve air quality and supports healthier lifestyles. Plus the money people save by not owning a car reduces stress, which is also healthier.
Where Can I Find it?
Car sharing works best in places that have high-density populations with accessible public transportation. Most of the SF Bay Area’s hundreds of locations, called “pods” (point of departure), are in Francisco, Oakland and Berkeley.
About City CarShare
City CarShare (CCS) is a local nonprofit car share provider in the Bay Area that is part of the area’s alternative transit network. CCS members save over $400/month by car sharing instead of owning while gaining access to fun cars like Mini coopers, hybrids, pick up trucks, smart cars and more. CCS has the best insurance coverage in the country, a fuel-efficient fleet, and special community programs for low-income residents, nonprofit organizations, youth educators and those who use wheelchairs. Members pay around $6.50 per hour for local trips (hours and mileage combined) and have access to hundreds of cars throughout the Bay Area. For more information or to become a member, visit http://www.citycarshare.org or call (415) 995-8588.
[i] Carsharing.net
[ii] San Francisco City CarShare: Longer-Term Travel-Demand and Car Ownership Impacts, by Cervero, Golub and Nee
Anita Daley 