The NYC DOT announced this past Tuesday, January 7, the expansion of its citywide curbside carshare program, which will take over many of the city’s already existing on-street parking spaces.
The curbside carshare program was first launched in 2018 to give members access to a car for short-term use–typically by the hour or day. Members could reserve vehicles right on their smartphone, pick the car up, and then return it to the same reserved spot once they were done using it.
After a 5-year pilot, the program has proven to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 6% (an annual net reduction of ~12,000 metric tons in greenhouse gases per year) and personal car ownership by 7%.
These metrics have caused the DOT to expand on the program.
“The global warming problem cries out for innovative solutions that can help us reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and the City’s curbside carshare program is one of those solutions,” said Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr.
The DOT and Carshare Companies have already identified 80 curbside carshare spaces across NYC to designate for the program, which will be in collaboration with Zipcar, Getaround, and Truqit.
The parking spaces will be set up in the Pelham Bay and Westchester Square sections of The Bronx, Bay Ridge, Bushwick, Brownsville, and Sunset Park, in Brooklyn, and Ozone Park, South Ozone Park, Long Island City, and Woodside, in Queens.
Spaces have already begun being installed in Brooklyn and the Bronx, with site installations in Queens taking place next week. The program hopes to install hundreds more by the end of this year.
New locations will be based upon knowledge of customer demand and household demographic data, conforming with criteria set forth by the NYC DOT to ensure the program reaches underserved New Yorkers in Equity Zone Areas.
Information on exact site locations can be found here.
“We now have the proof that convenient access to carshare frees New Yorkers from the burden of car ownership – while helping to fight climate change. Soon more New Yorkers will have access to a vehicle when required – no need to sign an expensive lease or to fret about finding a parking space,” said DOT Commissioner Rodriguez. “With thanks to the Mayor for his support, we are excited to build on the successes of our pilot…We encourage New Yorkers to give this great program a try!”