improving the business carsharevt.org of driving

improving the business carsharevt.org of driving

What is CarShare Vermont? CarShare Vermont gives you access to a network of cars parked in convenient spots all over town that you can use by the hour or day whenever you need to drive. Small firms, large companies, government agencies, and institutions alike all rely on CarShare Vermont to help meet their travel needs, encourage alternative commuting, save money, and lessen their environmental impact. Read on to find out how CarShare Vermont can benefit your business, too. Founded by local people who care about our community, CarShare Vermont is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that s on a mission to provide an affordable, convenient, and reliable alternative to private car ownership that enhances the environmental, economic, and social wellbeing of our region and planet. How it works: 1 2 3 Sign up Sign up your business by completing a simple online form. It takes just seconds! Get employees involved Invite your employees to join in on the fun. They ll be asked to fill out a short online application so we can verify their driving records. Get in and go Reserve any vehicle in our fleet 24/7. A swipe of your key fob unlocks the door and gets you driving. Meetings, errands, deliveries you ll have the freedom to go wherever, whenever. Your business will automatically receive an itemized statement each month showing each employee s usage. You can even add accounting codes. Car-sharing exists in 600 cities in four continents around the world. 1 2

It saves money Rates Everything is included Business travel is expensive providing employee parking, reimbursing for mileage, and paying for rentals can really add up, not to mention the administrative costs. If your staff regularly uses personal vehicles to travel during the workday, CarShare Vermont is a convenient and cost-effective alternative. Plus, if your employees can rely less on their own vehicles during the day, they can use other modes to get to work. This can help manage your parking demand and possibly reduce the number of spaces you need to provide. If you currently manage your own fleet, let CarShare take over. By tapping into our existing network of vehicles, you ll lower your costs and save time. Or we re happy to help you efficiently manage your own fleet using our technology. It s always cheapest to walk, bike, or ride the bus to your destination, but if you have to drive, consider CarShare Vermont. Here s how we stack up to reimbursing for mileage: CarShare Vermont vs. Mileage Reimbursement CarShare Personal Savings Burlington to: Vermont Vehicle Montpelier $39.30 $39.78 $0.48 St. Albans $27.38 $30.60 $3.23 Rutland $62.70 $67.32 $4.62 Hanover, NH $75.95 $94.35 $18.40 Boston, MA $113.50 $219.30 $105.80 Mileage reimbursement rates calculated using the $.51/mile federal standard. All trips originate in Burlington and are roundtrip. Estimates assume travel and meeting time. CarShare Vermont rates are all inclusive. In addition to our hourly rate for quick commutes, our plan has a reduced day rate for longer trips. As individuals and businesses, we aren t fully aware of the true costs of driving. Many employees don t realize that the per-mile reimbursement doesn t fully cover what it costs to own and operate their car. And for businesses, CarShare Vermont is usually cheaper than reimbursing for mileage, especially for out-of-town trips. Jon Adams-Kollitz, CEDO BusinessShare Plan $20 to $40 monthly membership fee based on the size of your business. $4.95 per hour + 25 per mile $49.00 day rate + 15 per mile (24 hours) There is a one-time $30 application fee per driver (to check driving records). Please visit carsharevt.org for all current rate plans and special offers. When you share our cars, we take care of: Gas Each car comes with its own gas card to pay for fuel when you need it. Insurance You re covered with premium auto insurance. Parking Our cars are parked in convenient, well-marked spots around town. Roadside assistance If you break down, our emergency service will change a tire, jump the battery, or even give you a tow. Ways to carry your stuff Many of our cars have bike and ski racks and when you need more cargo space, share a pickup truck. We also take care of all the hassles that come with ownership: Carwashes Regular service & maintenance Winter tires Shoveling snow 3 4 or

It s easy to use Businesses join CarShare Vermont because: It s convenient Sample pod locations Employees can make, change, extend, or cancel reservations online or by phone, anytime. They can book cars on the fly or months in advance depending on their needs. There s no paperwork, waiting in line, or traveling across town to pick up keys. Each employee s personal key fob gets them into any car in our network. With CarShare Vermont, you can forget about the administrative hassles of processing employee expense reports and cutting checks. You ll receive one streamlined invoice every month detailing each employee s usage you can even add job codes. There s always a car nearby. CarShare Vermont locations or pods are conveniently located all around Burlington, including on campus at UVM and Champlain College and near many downtown businesses. We also partner with other car-sharing organizations around the country to give you roaming privileges if your travels take you out of state. If we don t yet have a car near your business, let s talk about how we might get one there. To check out our current fleet and an interactive map of our pod locations, visit us at carsharevt.org. We ll be happy to help you integrate CarShare Vermont into your travel and personnel policies, making sure you maximize your cost savings and benefit to employees. I ve never had to wait for a car there are several pods within walking distance from our office. CarShare Vermont is our company car. Dave Speidel, Place Creative Company CarShare Vermont volunteer nannies baby our cars so you don t have to. They do things like shovel snow and move cars during parking bans. 5 6

It s good for the environment Commuting and the carbon footprint Driving is the most polluting activity most Vermonters undertake on a daily basis, and businesses concerned about the environment can t ignore the collective impact of their employees commuting habits and work-related travel. We re here to help. Making CarShare Vermont available to your employees can make a big difference. For many, it s the missing piece that makes walking, biking, riding the bus, or carpooling to work much more practical. In fact, people who participate in car-sharing programs are proven to reduce the amount they drive by as much as half! You d be surprised how quickly you can put a dent in emissions just by helping your team cut back on driving a day or two a week. Consider this: Transportation is responsible for 46% of Vermont s greenhouse gas emissions, with the vast majority of these emissions derived from private vehicles. 79% of residents living and working in Chittenden County drive alone to work. Studies show that each car-share vehicle put on the road replaces 7 to 20 privately owned vehicles. Many Vermont businesses are taking the initiative to reduce their carbon footprints. They re doing everything from minimizing waste and changing light bulbs to retrofitting their office spaces to improve efficiency. However, promoting sustainable transportation among employees is often overlooked, despite the fact that vehicle emissions likely make up a good chunk of corporate carbon footprints. The reality is that we ve become so dependent on cars that they re the default mode for getting around, even when other options are readily available and more affordable. But stepping between people and their cars is daunting it s no wonder businesses have been hesitant to broach this issue in the workplace. It s time for a change. If we re serious about helping our region maintain good air quality and a healthy environment, we need to curb our car use. Employers can play a vital role here by helping their employees drive less. And it doesn t have to be burdensome or costly. Here are a few ideas to get you started: In lieu of parking, offer a CarShare Vermont membership it costs a lot less and gives your employees the choice not to drive to work. Offer fun incentives to promote walking, biking, and carpooling. Include transit passes as a pre-tax benefit for your employees and you ll both save money. Encourage biking by adding additional bike parking at your workplace there are programs to help cover the cost. CarShare Vermont is here to offer assistance. Along with our partners, we re eager to help you develop a sustainable transportation program that makes your employees proud, meets your carbon reduction goals, and strengthens your bottom line. Email info@carsharevt.org to learn more. 7 8

It provides valuable employee benefits A CarShare Vermont business membership comes with a bunch of perks for your employees, including: The option to commute how they want Many employees like the idea of riding their bikes, walking, taking the bus or carpooling to work but worry about the what ifs. What if they need to get to a meeting, pick up a sick child, or run to the store and they don t have a car? No worries we ve got plenty parked nearby, giving employees the choice to get to work how they want without losing their freedom. A personal membership at no additional cost Employees can set up a personal membership for themselves with no additional sign up fees. This encourages them to share cars at work and at home. Whatever their needs, they ll have access to our network 24/7. Reduced wear and tear on personal cars Some people own cars just because they need them for work, yet business travel reimbursements often don t cover the true costs of driving and maintaining a car. With CarShare Vermont, employees can leave their cars at home and rely on ours this may allow some families to downsize their household fleets. Being part of the CarShare Vermont community Employees will instantly enjoy being part of something innovative and fun that is making a real difference in our community. Plus, their key fob will get them discounts at lots of local businesses as part of our Fob Friends program! As an avid cyclist, I can get in a 10-mile round trip bike ride every day during nice weather and know there s a car at work when I need one. It s a no-brainer. Businesses join CarShare Vermont because: It supports the community By joining CarShare Vermont, you re helping us advance our mission while making a bold statement about your business s dedication to social and environmental responsibility. CarShare Vermont puts every dollar toward helping residents and businesses reduce private car use this alleviates traffic and parking congestion, improves the quality of our air and water, and supports better land use. At the same time, we are working hard to enhance the mobility options for those who can t afford to own a car, bringing more stability and economic health to our whole community. Your support helps ensure our community continues to have access to a sustainable, reliable, and affordable transportation service. CarShare Vermont works with groups like ours to make clean and healthy transportation options practical. When businesses join CarShare Vermont, it benefits their employees and the wider community. Chapin Spencer, Local Motion Sam Hoar, attorney, Dinse Knapp & McAndrew 9 10

Start sharing today! There are lots of ways to get involved: Join as a business Offer CarShare Vermont memberships as an employee benefit Sponsor or host a pod Spread the word We d love to hear from you. To join CarShare Vermont or ask any questions, here s how to get a hold of us: Online: carsharevt.org By phone: (802) 861-2340 In person: 131 St. Paul Street, downtown Burlington (9am-5pm, Monday through Friday) Printed on recycled paper containing 100% post consumer waste, produced acid and chlorine free.