Why CuseCar ??
Have you been thinking of a way to tighten your belt lately? With the economy rocky, fuel prices rapidly rising higher than salaries, and an increase in other expenses, now may be a better time than ever to consider ways to help reduce costs.
A CuseCar membership may be a viable alternative whether you consider the environmental impact to owning a car or the costs it has on deepening holes in your pockets.
Cost Benefits
We all know that it is expensive to own and maintain a vehicle. Rust damage from the infamous Syracuse winters stemming salt deposits is enough of an expense. Add an expired warranty, ever rising and unbearable gas prices and insurance rates, and you’ve got an entirely different picture.
According to AAA, it costs an average of $8,000 a year to own a vehicle! Car-sharing members have seen savings of as much as $4,000 dollars a year! With competitive rates that include insurance for people 18 and older and gas, a membership could help cut costs significantly. It may even force you to ask “What could I do with that extra money?”
Environmental Benefits
In cities across the state and the country, participation in car-share programs has helped to offset the impact of greenhouse gases, helping to reduce that city’s carbon footprint. By reducing the number of cars on the road, we are able to considerably reduce the amount of CO2 emissions, helping to make Syracuse the Emerald City we hope it can be.
In being a member of CuseCar, Syracuse is more likely to achieve its goals of being a leading environmentally conscious city by helping to enhance environmentally friendly forms of transportation—walking, biking, Centro, carpooling and CuseCar—cementing our status locally and within the region.
Other car shares have seen a decrease in vehicle ownership after drivers become members of the program as well as a decrease in the amount of overall driving done by individuals. Some individuals have even sold their vehicles!
Health Benefits
Combining the cost savings from using car-shares and the environmental benefits, car-shares help to promote healthier living as a 'hidden' benefit to members. A reduction in greenhouse gases not only helps to protect the environment, but ensures we are breathing healthier air. Additionally, as members become less dependent on their own vehicles for transport, they couple car-sharing with other healthier alternatives of travel—walking and biking—more often.
Promoting walking and riding is also beneficial in making areas more lively. Ever recognized a favorite restaurant or bookstore because you happened to walk down a particular street? Would you have noticed it otherwise? Run into an old friend because you just so happen to be walking down the street? As anecdotal as this may seem, evidence shows that car-shares help to decrease urban sprawl and incentivize people to shop locally and build a stronger sense of community.
As an added benefit, buying locally helps to strengthen the regional economy. In other cities across the country that already have car-share programs up and running, the impact of car-sharing on those sectors has been tremendous.
Whether you care deeply about the environment, are trying to lead a more healthy life, trying to save a few bucks and cut costs, or just don’t have access to a car, a CuseCar membership can benefit you tremendously.
"What are you waiting for? Why not CuseCar?
