30 Apr 07
Sam Barker: from XJS to Golf 1.4
They might be called car clubs, but they're not part of a social network of passionate car owners. Quite the opposite in fact.
To understand the phenomenon, we've enlisted the help of Sam Barker, one of the estimated 12,000-15,000 motorists in the UK who've discovered this high-tech, green-tinged alternative to car ownership.
Barker is a London-based freelance photographer who absolutely has to drive for his work. He recently off-loaded his problematic Jaguar XJS, but instead of buying another car, he joined Streetcar instead.
Six months later, he's completely sold on it: 'Streetcar has saved me a fortune,' he says.
So what's the magic formula? Broadly speaking, a car club is a bit like your neighbours deciding to rent out the family Focus. It's handily parked just down the street and bookable for periods as short as an hour.
To achieve that walkable closeness, the car clubs don't corral their cars into one big pen, as the established rental companies do, but leave them dotted about town. Whether Whizzgo, Zipcar or Streetcar, whether in London, Bristol or Brighton, the concept is the same: the car should be no more than a few minutes away.
