Bike and car-sharing schemes on the road to success

Campaigners say the pooling of resources has been better for the environment, and have also stresses its potential for improving people's health and wellbeing.

They have also hailed the economic and social benefits of vehicle-sharing, saying that using mutual transport can save money and also encourages people to come together.

More people are cycling nowadays

Two fresh studies by the charity CoMoUK, which promotes shared transport found that they are becoming increasingly popular in Scotland, particularly among urban populations.

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The Car Club Annual Survey for 2019 found that more than 25,000 people were part of car clubs north of the border last year, a huge increase on the three years before. 

Results show that in 2015 there were 7,715 members of car clubs, while in 2017 that had risen to 10,662 members. Last year, there were at 25,193 members.

The report states: "Car clubs are playing an important role in tackling some of the major transport problems facing Scotland, primarily carbon emissions, congestion and poor air quality. They can also make communities more sustainable, particularly Scotland’s diverse rural communities."

Lorna Finlayson, CoMoUK’s Scotland Director, said: “Scottish car clubs are playing a vital role in tackling some of the major transport problems the country is facing, primarily carbon emissions, congestion and poor air quality.”

According to the charity, for each car club vehicle in Scotland about 14 private cars are taken off the road. That equates to 6,700 vehicles thanks to the 488-strong car club fleet on the road in Scotland.

Of those vehicles, almost half are electric or hybrid, while nearly all 98 are compliant with low emission zones.

It is estimated that the car clubs have saved 3,620 tonnes of carbon emissions, roughly the same as would be produced by 674 return flights from Glasgow to New York.

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For this year’s car club survey, the charity collected data from the two main national operators, Co-wheels Car Club and Enterprise Car Club, plus three community car clubs.

The survey of members was completed by 1,499 people across Scotland. Fleet data along with operational data was collected from operators.

The bike share survey was completed by 799 users of Scottish schemes. The majority of results were from Glasgow (69%), Edinburgh (17%) and Stirling (14%).

Headline figures from the 2019/20 UK Bike Share Users Survey, which has published Scotland-specific figures for the first time, showed 64 per cent of users reported an increase in the amount they cycle as a result of using a bike share scheme, and 44 per cent said that bike share was the trigger for them to get cycling again.

Around a third said they previously commuted to work by car and 36 per cent said they were using their car much less overall.

The report found that more than half of those using bike share schemes said it had made their journey quicker and easier.

Bike sharing is increasingly popular

Most of the users said that bike share enhances public transport, with many able to use their bikes alongside the bus (19 per cent) and the train (27 per cent).

The scheme's users were spread across many different age groups, and the majority were working people. The survey found that almost two thirds were employed, 17% were students, while the remainder were retired or unemployed.

“There are some really interesting findings in this report. Bike share plays an important role in getting people to change their attitudes towards travel,” said Ms Finlayson.

“Bike share offers a flexible solution. They often fit seamlessly into people’s commutes where they may also be travelling on train or bus, for example, to help them get to where they need to be. As these schemes become more popular and more private cars are kept off the road, the better it will be for everyone.”