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BVRLA Chief Executive Toby Poston: Friday saw the confirmation of something many across the industry – and our capital – have feared for weeks. Zipcar’s announcement that it would cease operating on these shores is particularly sad and raises concerns around the broader picture for urban mobility in the UK.
Zipcar has played a huge role in reducing congestion and improving air quality across the Capital. These are two of the core benefits that car clubs car provide, particularly in urban areas. London rightly prides itself on its public transport network, but fixed bus, tube, train and tram routes will never be able to serve 100% of its resident's needs.
Having an active and accessible car club is proven to reduce car ownership in densely populated areas. Short-term access to suitable vehicles enables people to retain their mobility in a cost effective and flexible way. The benefits are obvious and backed by data.
It is therefore a tragedy that policymakers can enthusiastically spend billions and billions of pounds of taxpayers’ money on high-speed rail lines or UK Automotive Industrial Strategy but can’t muster the collaborative gumption to consistently and constructively support this vital form of urban mobility.
The neglect over many years shown by the Department for Transport (DfT), the Greater London Authority and Transport for London features large in any epitaph to this trailblazing outfit that (originally as Streetcar) led the exciting car club wave that hit the UK in the 2000’s and 2010’s.
Zipcar is not the only name in this space and I salute anyone else that continues to battle the odds against huge economic, operational and regulatory headwinds, compounded by local government apathy.
We need this watershed moment for urban mobility to be a wake-up call as opposed to a sign of things to come. This must act as a spur for local authorities across the UK, but especially London, to rethink their approach to shared road transport and the few hardy car club operators that remain.
