KCRag Forum

DaveKCMO wrote:https://twitter.com/staubio/status/696731186018684928

#KC in negotiation with Zipcar to bring car share to dedicated city-provided spaces downtown.

Nice.

negotiation almost complete, THEN they will scout on-street locations. up to 10 cars downtown!

Zipcar downtown expansion coming, 8 cars in 4 locations...
http://www.kansascity.com/news/local/ar ... 17982.html

Currently at UMKC and airport.

The timing of the launch and the exact downtown locations are still under review, but it should be within the next two months. Campbell and Zipcar representatives are considering locations in the vicinity of Third and Delaware streets in the River Market; Baltimore Avenue between 13th and 14th streets in the Power & Light entertainment district; 19th or 20th and Main streets; and in front of the Blue Cross Blue Shield offices across from Union Station at 23rd and Main streets.

fairly confident the two crossroads cars will be in front of the rieger.

Westport/Plaza area seems obvious for next expansion, especially given several residential buildings with limited parking, as in not enough spaces for all units.

Dave, do you know if the City sought out Zipcar expansion or if Zipcar planned on their own? If City pursued it, would like to see them pursue Westport/Plaza area next. At only $9/hour, would be cheapest private way for airport runs and much less than Uber.

BTW, here is their KC map, in a couple months up to 4 downtown locations should appear...
https://www.zipcar.com/find-cars/kansascity

BTW #2, the thread title should probably drop 'at UMKC' now that they are expanding.

earthling wrote:Westport/Plaza area seems obvious for next expansion, especially given several residential buildings with limited parking, as in not enough spaces for all units.

Dave, do you know if the City sought out Zipcar expansion or if Zipcar planned on their own? If City pursued it, would like to see them pursue Westport/Plaza area next. At only $9/hour, would be cheapest private way for airport runs and much less than Uber.

BTW, here is their KC map, in a couple months up to 4 downtown locations should appear...
https://www.zipcar.com/find-cars/kansascity

BTW #2, the thread title should probably drop 'at UMKC' now that they are expanding.

the city issued an RFP and zipcar responded. midtown is next if downtown goes well.

O/T, But I would really love to see Car2Go in KC at some point.

likemacgyver wrote:O/T, But I would really love to see Car2Go in KC at some point.

i doubt we are dense enough for car2go.

was in indianapolis over the weekend and they have an electric car-sharing program that's clearly city-funded (rebranded, presumably from car2go as they use smart cars): https://www.blue-indy.com/

zipcar's only city incentive is not having to pay for on-street space until they establish a market.

wow, that blue indy thing is a huge network.

KCPowercat wrote:wow, that blue indy thing is a huge network.

It's interesting how scale is relative. It's absolutely huge for this kind of network, but long-term it's going to look amateurish and possible stupid.

I estimate that's 200 cars today. If we just use the actual city population, that's a car per 4000 people. For the whole metro area that's one per 9800 people.

I'd guess they'll end up at 700-800 cars with current plans. Or a car per 1200 people

To actually be effective and take private cars off the street I bet we'll need closer to one car per 10 people. This system will need to grow dramatically to 400x in size just for the center city.

Car rental systems like this with stations scattered around is never going to be successful long term. There's too much capital cost making sure cars end up where demand is (think of how kc bcycle moves bikes around) and too much of the city will be dedicated to parking to do this scale right.

A much better long-term model is a relatively small static car system for immediate, premium, demand with a series of centralized storage locations in less desirable locations and automated vehicles that fan out based on a schedule, much like the bus barn model.

The new cars might be available as early as Oct. 3!

Nice. Hopefully Westport/Plaza area added sooner than later.

DaveKCMO wrote:The new cars might be available as early as Oct. 3!

the date has moved to oct. 27.

signage is up! kick-off event oct. 24 at union station.

14th & baltimore (two cars):



across from union station (two cars):



two cars in the crossroads (rieger) and two more in the river market.

Good news, so should appear active on website Oct 24 you'd think. Bring on Westport/Plaza...

the 8 new cars are live right now. sign up in the app for 50% off a membership.

local artist sike painted the stalls across from union station:

The locations don't show up yet on their website.

They did when I searched for "kansas city"

earthling wrote:The locations don't show up yet on their website.

try the app. they went live at 4pm CST.

Ah, I just did a quick check.. had to zoom into downtown to see the locations.

Who to contact within City to kickstart interest for Westport/Plaza locations and get an RFP going?