What is Ithaca Carshare?
Ithaca Carshare is a local nonprofit offering a new kind of transportation service in the Ithaca area: carsharing. Carsharing offers members self-serve, 24/7 access to a well-cared for fleet of vehicles around the community.
Over 50 cities in the United States have carsharing organizations, whose members save money on car costs, while enjoying other ways of getting around more, such as walking, bicycling, ridesharing and the bus. Carsharing is also one of the few things known to actually reduce car traffic.
Read on for an Ithaca Carshare overview, or visit the Ithaca Carshare Web site . You can also reach Ithaca Carshare at 607-277-3210 to learn more about their fees, how to join, vehicles available and member rules.
Is Ithaca Carshare right for me?
Ithaca Carshare can simplify your life and save you money if you can easily get to a car location and:
- Do not need a car to get to work every day, or to take frequent multi-day trips.
- Need or want a car or truck at times for errands, going out or other trips that are mostly under 24 hours.
- Use a variety of transportation strategies to get around, such as walking, bicycling, ridesharing, taxi, or riding the bus.
Tip: Using Ithaca Carshare is an especially good deal for trips that involve making many different stops in a short time period, going places the bus doesn't go, or taking round trips that would be too expensive in a taxi.
How does it work?
Applying to be an Ithaca Carshare member is easy and can be done online. People who qualify for membership (see below) pay an application fee, a membership fee, and a car usage fee by the hour and mile.
Ithaca Carshare has close to a dozen vehicles parked in spots around town. A car or truck can be reserved by members over the phone at any time day or night. During their reserved time, a member goes to their vehicle, uses a special key to unlock it, drives wherever they want, then returns it to the same spot.
Visit the Ithaca Carshare Web site to learn more about how Ithaca Carshare works and read their Frequently Asked Questions.
Is it affordable?
If you use Ithaca Carshare and other strategies to get around instead of a car, you can save hundreds to thousands of dollars a year. Ithaca Carshare can also save you a lot of money if you have a license, but often take a taxi. See our page on Comparing Costs.
Learn more about Ithaca Carshare's two levels of membership and rates.
Who can be a member?
Ithaca Carshare offers membership to drivers age 18 and up, who have a valid driver's license and who meet minimum eligibility requirements, including 2 years of driving history.
Can I bring my kids in the vehicle?
Members are welcome to share the car with passengers, including kids. Of course, the car needs to stay clean for the next person. Ithaca Carshare does not provide child car seats, but they can be brought and used in the vehicles, then removed.
What if there's no Ithaca Carshare car nearby?
You can still use an Ithaca Carshare car or truck for certain errands, if you can get to a vehicle by walking, bicycle or bus. Plus, if enough people in one area are interested, Ithaca Carshare might consider placing the next car there!
Find Ithaca Carshare car and car locations.