Nothing has happened for the past few weeks, so I haven't posted. I've been at least mildly sick for the past week, which isn't really blogworthy material and prevents me from doing anything else blogworthy. I finished off a few gifts, which was cool, but that's about it.
Today, however, I joined Flexcar. I am very happy about this because it gives me access to a car without the hassle of buying and maintaining my own vehicle. In addition, PCC membership gives me extra-cool rates and benefits.
For those of you who have never heard of Flexcar, it's sort of a car-rental company, except that it's more like car-sharing than car-rental. Flexcar, the company, owns and maintains a lot of cars that it parks around the city. If I'm a member and I want to do a few errands, I just hop online and reserve the car whose regular parking spot is just up the hill from me. When it's my turn, I drive it and return it to its parking place before my time is up. Flexcar pays for the gas, maintenance, insurance, and 24-hour assistance.
The best part is that it costs only $25 per year for membership, plus whatever rate plan I choose. As a PCC member, I get a special rate: $8 per hour, with 30 miles per hour included. I'm willing to pay that in order to run errands myself, without waiting ages for the bus or making Jeff take the time out of his day to drive me around (or teach me to drive his manual transmission, which is even more of a time commitment in this hilly city).
Yeah, I'm psyched. I may just not buy a car at all, at least if I can live in a place where there's something like Flexcar.
Update 26.02.2005: I got my Flexcar card today! Just in time for a grocery run (Jeff's car is on the fritz). Whee!
Dallas says:
Wow, I've never heard of this before, but what a great idea. I take that back, I've heard of a similar idea with bicycles, but I've always lived in such a small city, that there was never anything like that. Even better, it's available in one of the cities I'm considering moving to.
By the way, I just found your blog today when I searched for quilting blogs.
nichole says:
Neat! We have Community Car in Madison, a similar program. I also found out that our county RideShare program provides emergency taxi vouchers (for sickness or family emergency) if you don't take your own car to work (whether you walk, bike, bus, or carpool) - something that eases my mind significantly!
Alita says:
Yay! I've been a Flexcar member for oh, I dunno, a couple of years now, and it has definitely saved my rear on more than one occasion.
Jim says:
I am about to sign up for this, but am exploring all angles ... one thing I am concerned about is getting auto insurance at some point in the future since I won't have a policy for however long I use the Flexcar program here in DC. Any thoughts on this?
By way of background, I got slammed into by a drunk driver last weekend. I was completely stopped at a red light. My car has been totaled and I just don't feel like rushing out and getting a new one. Mine was completely paid for and had half it's life left. Not a happy camper.
But thought Flexcar might be a great alternative.
Laurabelle says:
Oh no! That's horrible (about the drunk driver, that is). I'm very glad that you are still alive and evidently well enough to surf the Web. I hope that you were not hurt at all.
As far as auto insurance goes, I really wouldn't know anything about that at all. It really wasn't a factor for me because I don't have a car and thus whenever I buy a car, I will never have had insurance under my own name. However, I don't see why it would make a difference that you're covered under Flexcar's insurance, because you will still have a driving record, and insurance companies will check that.
I think that if Flexcar fits your lifestyle, you should definitely go for it. I have never had a car of my own, but I find that I am now getting out of the house more, on foot or by bus, even though I have only used Flexcar once so far. Mentally, the knowledge that I have a car available if I need one (and only pay when I use it) is really energizing.
Steve says:
I work for Flexcar, and came across this posting. If a member leaves Flexcar, we provide you with a letter proving that you've been insured by our insurer, so getting re-insured if you decide to buy a car again isn't an issue.