edited to add: well duh, I also ride my scooter, forgot to mention that!

[*:2bee167279] hopped on the bus

[*:2bee167279] stopped by my office

[*:2bee167279] hopped in a zip car

[*:2bee167279] went by target, got some sundries

[*:2bee167279] stopped into my art studio, grabbed a painting

[*:2bee167279] moved painting home, dropped stuff off

[*:2bee167279] returned zip car

[*:2bee167279] hopped on bus, stopped by store

[*:2bee167279] picked up prescription

[*:2bee167279] bought $30 of groceries

[*:2bee167279] hopped on the bus, came home

I used the bus and a zip car- all in 2.5 hours. Who needs to own a car?

Zip car cost $9 (cost of doing business since the purpose was to move a painting that is going in a show to be sold), and the bus was free (since I’m in grad school, but $1.50/trip for standard citizens).

Last call. See this site for more info on their merger with Zipcar. http://xingcolumbus.wordpress.com/2007/10/31/flexcar-and-zipcar-merge/

(sorry if this is a double post, but my last one disappeared. What gives?? Actually, come to think of it another post I did yesterday never showed up…. hmmm….)

As a special introductory offer for OSU, the first year’s annual membership fee will be waived (a $35 value) when you join Flexcar by October 31, 2007.

[url]http://www.flexcar.com/Default.aspx?tabid=562[/url]

Oct. 31st is the deadline. And it’s open to all, not just OSU folks.

(I have no relation to flexcar, just a fan of car sharing!)

And off topic, but your username reminds me of that Fedde Le Grand song… Put Your Hands Up!

The attractive thing about it is that I drive this old SUV my wife came into just before we were married – sure it costs a lot to put gas in, but I’m in no position to buy a car of any kind right now – and the rental for long enough to go to Cleveland, watch a game and come back is about equivalent to a tank of gas in my truck – plus I get piece of mind, the good feeling that goes with conserving a little gasoline, and all that.

Really looking forward to trying it out.

Answer for trygr: my silly (it really is silly) pop-up handbook says that I’m to make sure there is at least a quarter tank of gas when I’m done with the car. And there is a card in the glove box that I use to do that – the gas is free.

So you are banking on Flexcar staying around?

How much did you spend overall on the rental (tax, surcharges, anything like that)?

Do you have to refill the tank?

Thanks!

Reservations: I followed the instructions that came with my FlexCard, logged in easily, made a pin, and went right to the reservation page. I navigated to Columbus-OSU area (you can rent anywhere you go with FlexCar) and entered the appropriate information. It shows the cars’ availability MSOutlook-style, with reserved time blocked off. My only beef is that they only show 4 cars per screen – you have to choose “Next”, “Next”, “Next” to see all of your options. The hourly prices are listed for each car along with their location and a graphic of which type of vehicle it is (truck, van, suv, car). Oh, reservations are in 30-minute blocks.

The car: There is one car on West Campus for $5 an hour. I wanted a car for 3 hours, so I thought it was worth the short ride on my scooter over to West Campus to save 12 bucks (the other cars seems to be all $9 and $10). It was a Civic. I’m sure I was the first person to use it – everything was squeaky clean and the tank was full.

Getting into the car: I was 8 minutes early, but I thought I’d try anyway. Alas, no entry until 1 minute before your reserved time – but you can call to change your reservation when you arrive at the car. I waved my FlexCard in front of the reader, it blinked yellow, then green, then the doors unlocked and I gained entry.

Driving the car: I took the key out of the holder in the glovebox, and the clock started. I turned on the air and the radio (CD101. It also had a single-CD player and probably MP3 plug-in). No problems driving, although I don’t particularly like the float-y feel of the Civic/Ford Focus/most cars that size.

Hauling the cargo: I bought a shovel and a bag of peat moss at Lowe’s. they fit nicely in the trunk (on top of plastic, of course). I made a stop at home to unload before taking the car back.

Leaving the car: I got back 12 minutes early – good thing! I couldn’t remember how the key fit in the timer/holder thing in the glovebox. It took me a good 2 minutes to figure it out. But I won’t forget next time! (hint: the KEY doesn’t slide into the holder – just a piece of the keychain!). I turned off the air, and the radio. I made sure my trash was disposed of, and I zipped off on my scooter.

I got a few interested looks while driving much to my pleasure.

Overall, an extremely easy process and a great experience. This affirms my plan to go car-free…as soon as I can sell the car…

8)

Benefits for me: $3,500 cash for my car (it’s paid off!), no paying for an “A” pass (that’s $606 savings), no paying for gas (except the rare scooter fill-up), no paying for insurance on a car, no paying for maintenance for a car. It can’t get too much better than that.

This is exactly the post I’ve been mulling over in my head. I live up in Clintonville, and I’m hoping to get a job within walking distance soon. If I get it, it’s getting to the point where keeping my car (also paid off) is a bit ridiculous. I have a 1998 car with fewer than 60,000 miles on it — that tells you how much I like driving. Having a car share in Columbus could be the thing that tips the scales for me to actually sell it off.

hodges wrote Benefits for me: $3,500 cash for my car (it’s paid off!), no paying for an “A” pass (that’s $606 savings), no paying for gas (except the rare scooter fill-up), no paying for insurance on a car, no paying for maintenance for a car. It can’t get too much better than that.

Sounds like you’ll be saving a boatload of money for a minor inconvenience! Nice! 8)

Options people. It’s what it’s all about!

Please post a review all about it if you decide to do this! I would be interested in hearing what you think about the experience.

Work is walkable when the temperature is a little more cooperative (not a fan of summer heat) if I can get myself out of bed 25 minutes earlier. And I drive a scooter on weather-less days.

I’ve been waiting for a car-sharing program to come to Columbus (didn’t think one would). I view this as the last piece of the puzzle leading to selling my car. The infrequent trips to Easton/Sawmill (Trader Joe’s stock ups!), the visits to Lowe’s, and trips up to Michigan – these are the only things left in my life that needed a car. Usually my husband and I go together, but for the even less frequent times when I need to run one of those errands on my own, now there is Flexcar – and I’m jumping on board.

Benefits for me: $3,500 cash for my car (it’s paid off!), no paying for an “A” pass (that’s $606 savings), no paying for gas (except the rare scooter fill-up), no paying for insurance on a car, no paying for maintenance for a car. It can’t get too much better than that.