New model: Unlike other point-to-point carsharing models, ONE>WAY features reserved parking on both ends of the trip.
ONE>WAY costs $6 per 30 minutes – much cheaper than many cab fares – on top of an annual membership fee of $60 if paid all at once. In a way, the point-to-point service is much like an alternative cab service that allows users to drive themselves. Implications: The nature of the trips taken through ONE>WAY means that the service more closely resembles – and competes with – modes of transportation that serve last-minute transportation needs such as traditional taxis, public transit and ridesourcing services like Uber and Lyft. Some are even using ONE>WAY for round-trips by selecting the same starting and ending point.
#Zipcar one way drivers#
ONE>WAY’s crowd-sourcing tool shows that one of the most popular trips is between Logan Airport and downtown Boston.Īccording to Zipcar, drivers also have the option of using unlimited renewals to extend their trip, since other members cannot book until the reservation is over and the car is in its final destination. For instance, users are more likely to use the ONE>WAY cars for more spontaneous trips, such as driving to a bar or restaurant, or on other excursions without a planned return. As a result, the pilot’s cars are often used in different ways than Zipcar’s traditional fleet. Uses: ONE>WAY users can only book cars 30 minutes before their trips – as opposed to days or weeks in advance as permitted with traditional carsharing. In all, Zipcar has approximately 1,000 total parking spots located throughout the Greater Boston area.įollowing is a snapshot of Zipcar’s pilot, including uses, implications, challenges and developments related to this new model of carsharing. The ONE>WAY pilot was made available to all Boston residents in December 2014 and currently features 200 Honda Fit subcompact cars and more than 200 spaces or “pods” specifically built for the one-way service. The pilot, ONE>WAY, represents a unique hybrid model that blends elements of traditional carsharing, such as guaranteed parking and advance reservations, with the spontaneity and freedom of the one-way model. Since you can only book 30 minutes in advance, wait times in theory wouldn’t pile up, but you might be out of luck trying to get a car home during rush hour.Zipcar launched a point-to-point carsharing pilot program in Boston last May that departed significantly from its traditional business model, which has required cars to be picked up and dropped off at the same location. Wester says the booking process will partly address this problem, as users will only be able to choose destinations that have open parking. Transporting cars would, for obvious reasons, be much more difficult. In New York, Citi Bike relies on trucks and “bike trailers” to haul bikes from one station to another based on demand.
With One>Way, Zipcar could become an alternative car-rental and alternative cab service (the main difference being that Zipcar users do the driving themselves).Īs with bikeshare services, the big challenge for Zipcar One>Way will be distribution. Wester describes the service as for “spontaneous use.” The implication is that Zipcar wants One>Way to compete with taxis and car services like Uber that cater to last-minute transportation needs.
What’s most interesting about Zipcar One>Way is that users won’t be able to book trips very far in advance, with a maximum lead time of 30 minutes on reservations.
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