Share the road. Or at least the car.

By Kevin Klinkenberg The Kansas City Post One problem that I frequently have with discussions on transportation is that issues are presented as black-and-white, either-or options. You know the arguments: we must have parking because people will drive no matter what. Or, we must ban parking to force people to use transit and walk more. The real world is full of far more shades of grey. To wit: the phenomenon of car sharing. No, this is not some free-love, leftover idea from the 1960’s. It’s a bona fide business geared towards urban dwellers and workers, and one that Kansas City should find ways to encourage. Three companies operate nationally that I’m aware of (Zipcar, Flexcar and I-go), and I’m sure others are in the works. These businesses work on a simple philosophy: some people may need a car, but not all the time. So, why not rent one by the hour as the need arises? Each of the companies have slightly different ways of distributing their cars. It can be anything from swiping a reader on the car with a "smart card", to making a reservation online for the time you need it. Car sharing frees some individuals from the expense of owning a seldom needed car but still gives them the freedom of having easy access to a vehicle for important errands or meetings. In many communities, car sharing is not only available, it’s actively encouraged by city government. And, for obvious reasons. If, for example, only 10 urban dwellers share a single car, that’s 10 fewer expensive parking spaces to be built, often at taxpayer expense. In some cities, it’s also considered a “public benefit” for developers, who are then rewarded with either lower parking ratios or more density. Kansas City is certainly a car city, and we’re a long ways from having a functional transit system that gets us where we need to go at all times. So why not encourage car sharing now as a step in the right direction? Less parking, more usable land, “green” cars, and market forces – what’s not to like?