More young urban dwellers don’t want to own a car \u2014 which is bad news for the automotive industry, but good news for the burgeoning car sharing industry.<\/p>\n
The growth in popularity of car sharing was obvious at the CarSharing Association’s 2013 Shared Mobility and Transit Conference, Sept. 16 and 17, at the Evergreen Brick Works, which saw a packed room full of industry representatives, public planning professionals, academics and entrepreneurs.<\/p>\n
Young people’s aversion to car ownership was a recurring theme at the conference. AutoShare President Kevin McLaughlin, in a written introduction to the event, said a 2012 study found a 23 per cent drop in ownership among people ages 16 to 34, between 2001 and 2009 alone.<\/p>\n
That’s a pretty significant drop; and, as Toronto Chief Planner Jennifer Keesmaat told the audience, it may mean that cities which fail to adapt to this change \u2014 through better access to various modes of travel, shorter commute times, and greater walkability \u2014 run the risk of losing the coveted Millennial generation, which would be bad.<\/p>\n
\u201cCities without this cohort are at tremendous risk,\u201d Keesmaat said. \u201cBecause they don’t have a future.\u201d<\/p>\n
Keesmaat said when the Baby Boomers eventually retire, it will create \u201ca significant talent vacuum.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cities need Millennials to fill that vacuum. Car sharing may be part of what it takes to entice young Canadians to urban centres.<\/p>\n
Regional transit agency Metrolinx is already preparing to integrate car sharing into the GTHA transportation network. Antoine Belaieff, Metrolinx’s director of innovation, told the conference 60 per cent of GO Rail users drive themselves to the station, filling the services 65,000 parking spaces, fast.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe’re running out of land,\u201d Belaieff said.<\/p>\n
To address this, Metrolinx has already introduced the Carpool to GO program, which provides dedicated carpool parking at 24 stations, Belaieff said.<\/p>\n
Additionally, Belaieff said Metrolinx is currently selecting and finalizing a partner from the car share industry. Once the contract is awarded, there will be dedicated car share spaces available at GO Rail stations for those who only need access to cars on occasion.<\/p>\n
Metrolinx has already sent out a Request For Proposal, and the contract will be awarded soon.<\/p>\n