Car clubs will benefit from an extra £40,000 of Government funding, Transport Minister Norman Baker has announced, with the money used to support car club development in the UK.
Baker said: “The Coalition Government, in its programme for government, has been clear in its commitment to sustainable travel initiatives such as car clubs to help achieve a greener and more sustainable transport sector.
“The figures speak for themselves – each car club vehicle can result in taking 24 private vehicles off the road and the low carbon vehicles used typically emit approx 33% less CO2 than the average car. This is why we are supporting the continued growth of car clubs across the country.”
Antonia Roberts, director of Carplus – the national charity supporting car club development, said: “The Department for Transport’s announcement signifies valuable support for car clubs, which can save individuals, businesses and local authorities money, reduce emissions and support sustainable transport objectives.”
Membership of car clubs gives access to low carbon vehicles for short periods of time, often by the hour, on a pay-as-you-go basis. Car clubs are growing, with the number of members increasing from 22,000 in 2007 to more than 127,114 members to date.
Dft said research has shown that pay-as-you-go car clubs reduce car use and support other sustainable travel initiatives by plugging gaps in journeys and promoting a shift in long term behaviour.
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