The London Assembly has called on mayor Sadiq Khan to work with Transport for London and London’s Boroughs to expand car clubs in the capital.
The Assembly said it strongly supports car clubs and recognises the role they play in helping to improve air quality as well as reducing congest. This follows the findings from CoMoUK’s 2020 London Car Club Annual Report which highlights that each car club vehicle in London takes 23.5 vehicles off the road.
The Assembly therefore urged the mayor, TfL and London Boroughs to assess what blocks are preventing car club expansion and to work together to remove them.
Shaun Bailey, assembly member, who proposed the motion, said: “Car clubs tackle congestion reduce demand for parking, and improve air quality, but we are not doing enough to encourage them. The Mayor and Transport for London need to look again at facilitating car clubs across the capital.
“Any review should consider expanding the number of car club parking spaces, rolling out rapid charging points, and ensuring new developments have access to the service. If we can make it easier and more accessible, then more people and businesses will be able to reduce their private car use and save money, easing pollution and congestion on London’s roads.”
Currently, there are six car clubs operating in the capital, enabling individuals and businesses to rent vehicles and pay-per-trip. Around 600,000 Londoners are members of car clubs.
Caroline Pidgeon, assembly member, seconded the motion, she added: “While car clubs are not the answer to all of London’s transport challenges, they have a critical role to play in terms of making our roads a better place.”
“By giving people a real alternative to traditional car ownership they have been shown to dramatically reduce parked cars on our roads.
“And by using newer and less polluting vehicles they can play a key role in reducing pollution in the capital.”
