City CarShare

April 24, 2008

A new way to access car sharing

By Anita Daley and Gretchen Nachtway

Dear Friends,

On Earth Day, City CarShare launched the nation's first wheelchair-accessible car share van, the AccessMobile. Now, those that use a wheelchair, have an increased opportunity to go anywhere they wish with friends and family, whenever they want. With the launch of the AccessMobile program, we hope to greatly increase travel options among those with disabilities in a manner that is independent of buses, paratransit schedules, and the high cost of buying a customized vehicle. For those not familiar with our services, car sharing is an environmentally responsible service that provides members with 24/7 shared access to a fleet of dispersed, conveniently located, unattended vehicles, priced on a per mile and/or hourly basis. As always, our service is user friendly. Simply join as an Access member, assign a driver, make your reservation, and you're off!

Our new AccessMobile is a Dodge Grand Caravan minivan, modified by Viewpoint Mobility. From the front seats forward, it is a standard van, but the rear door opens to reveal an easy-to-use ramp for wheelchair or cargo loading. The AccessMobile can carry four seated passengers (including driver), plus two more passengers in wheelchairs (Please note: capacity for the van depends on size of wheelchairs.) Wheelchair tiedowns are also included in the van to ensure a comfortable and secure ride. The AccessMobile is a pilot program developed with the city of Berkeley, to accommodate as many people as possible. Through this pilot program, we will ask members for feedback, suggestions and advice on how to grow and improve our service.

Over the past week, through our own staff's personal test drives, we are more certain than ever that the AccessMobile will bring about new freedom to members who use wheelchairs. One of our pleased members feels liberated because she is now able to travel to destinations that were previously not easily accessible like Point Reyes and Monterey. One of the many perks of the AccessMobile is that now it is easier for wheelchair passengers to be a part of car conversations. In the words of one of our satisfied passengers "the ride was smooth, which is often not the case in larger vans. And, of course, there's the improved sociability factor of sitting closer together." This positive feedback makes us hopeful that this new service will give members a new mode for exploring the beautiful Bay Area. Watching the surfers at Ocean Beach, visiting an exhibit at a museum, or simply having a picnic in Golden Gate Park will now be more feasible for those who participate in our Access program.

The AccessMobile located in downtown Berkeley near BART, will join our fleet of over 270 vehicles located throughout San Francisco, Berkeley, Oakland and El Cerrito. Thanks to a grant from the National Organization on Disability's Accessible America awarded to the City of Berkeley, City CarShare received financial support to make this program possible. The City of Berkeley received the $25,000 grant by winning contest. City employees and City CarShare members participating in the Access program will share the AccessMobile Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and the van will be available to all City CarShare members on evenings and weekends. The AccessMobile is priced at our standard van rate of $7/hour and 40 cents per mile and, as always, gas, insurance, and maintenance are included. For details on how to join as an Access member, click here.

Please share the word with anyone who might be interested in this service. We look forward to hearing from you!

Thanks for sharing!

- Anita Daley and Gretchen Nachtwey

415-995-8588

marketing@citycarshare.org