Flexcar may extend its car-sharing services into the city, placing cars downtown in addition to the fleet of five already on the campus, according to a city official and a Flexcar representative.
Though details of the extended program have yet to be hashed out, Robert Stumpff, director of public works for College Park, and Flexcar’s Washington General Manager Ralph Burns met Tuesday to evaluate possible locations for two cars, likely near City Hall. The company already has a car at the College Park Metro station.
“The city felt there were some residents and more students that were not getting served by where the cars were placed currently. Right now, all of our conversations are very positive,” said Burns, but he added that plans with the city are still uncertain. Burns praised the city’s interest and said more discussions are planned.
Jahantab Siddiqui, president of the Off-Campus Student Association, said the city should pursue the program, which he said would benefit commuter students living in the city.
Flexcar is considering introducing promotional discounts for city residents to accompany the expansion, but the specifics are still uncertain.
The council brainstormed other locations for the cars as well, including near University View or at sites farther north up Route 1. Mayor Stephen Brayman said he would like to see the cars farther north to give more residents access to the service.
However, any Flexcars placed off the campus would have to be under a separate contract from the terms negotiated by the university. Stumpff said he spoke with university Transportation Services Director David Allen over spring break and that Allen told him Flexcar did not want campus cars placed off university property; Allen suggested the city consult Flexcar on their own terms.
It is still unclear if either city residents or students would enjoy the same promotional discount offered to students who use the on-campus cars. Stumpff said the pilot program offering membership to students age 18 and older may be extended to the city, however. The program was the first Flexcar initiative in the country offering membership to drivers under Flexcar’s minimum age of 21.
Part of the impetus for expanding Flexcar downtown is the apparent success the company has had on the campus – especially in offering the cars to a younger clientele.
“To actually be able to operate the [under-21] program itself in the partnership with the university is a huge success,” said Burns. “We have members, and [enrollment] is growing. It just takes a little bit of time to educate and inform students of the program.”
Burns would not say how many students are enrolled, and he said the program is still being evaluated for cost-effectiveness to students.
“But it’s without a doubt a very positive program for us and the university,” said Burns.
He boasted 33 percent of Flexcar’s fleet is made up of hybrid vehicles and that the premium insurance included in the rental rate covers “well above what our competitors cover.”
“The city is very excited about the potential for Flexcar to expand into the city,” he said. “I was just totally blown away by their forward thinking and preparing for the future.”
Contact reporter Laura Schwartzman at schwartzmandbk@gmail.com.
