How we started

Introducing a car club to East Oxford

In Spring 2008, ’Transition Oxford’ included a small group looking at a Low Carbon future for Oxford, with regard specifically to Transport. We established quickly that some things were already happening – Oxford is a good city for cycling and walking, and organisations exist to press for improvements in those areas. Other things were beyond a small voluntary group of local residents – such as improving the bus provision, or introducing a light railway/tram network (one day!)

And we wondered why there was no Car Club in Oxford.

At the same time a handful of people in East Oxford were considering what they might do, beyond their own households, that would reduce carbon emissions in their area.

We got together and studied and discussed for a few months. We decided that launching a Car Club was possible, and it would make a difference. We clarified what we wanted. We wondered about setting up our own.

During this time, we made contact with various existing operations; one of these, Commonwheels, was a ‘Community Interest Company’ with similar aims, and we continued talking with them.

During that Summer, the County Council was engaging in a consultation in East Oxford about introducing a ‘Controlled Parking Zone’, and this gave us the opportunity to communicate with 5,000 households about the concept. Introduction of such a scheme would be a time when residents were confronted with additional cost to keep their own vehicle on the streets near their home. A good moment to offer an alternative.

We also conducted a small ‘market survey’ of our own. In this area, parking congestion is a real issue, public transport links are good, and many people have a high level of environnmental awareness, all of which suggested it was a prime location and time to launch a new Car Club.

We rehearsed and developed our arguments, explaining the concept through word-of-mouth and meetings of local groups.

We sat down with Philip of Commonwheels and discussed what was needed to get things happening, and somehow found ourselves proposing a fixed date for launching.

We were to find several cars suitable for adoption into the Club, several thousand pounds for start-up costs, and liaise with the County Council about locations for the cars. We would continue promoting and publicising. Commonwheels would provide two new ‘Blue Motion’ Polos, equip all the vehicles, run the operational side of things, and be ready to launch in November.

This decision prompted a fair bit of work. The Councillors on the Local Area Committee of the City Council were very supportive (all Green Party members, they quickly grasped the benefits the Car Club offers), and we submitted an application for £4,500 towards equipping the cars. Officers working on the CPZ consultation also grasped the potential, and were very helpful in identifying locations, and marking up bays ‘informally’ as part of their consultation. The proposed CPZ was, and is, controversial, and many residents felt resentful at having restrictions imposed, and having to pay for them, so Officers were very pleased to be able to point to a positive initiative that would help the situation at comparatively little cost, and without any need for coercion or enforcement.

The local press also enjoyed being able to report positive news, and gave us good coverage on several occasions.

During this, we ‘constituted’ ourselves, complete with a Committee and opened a bank account. (Our committee meetings happen monthly in members’ homes, and are open to anyone wanting to get involved. They have always been remarkable for covering essential business while remaining convivial and allowing leeway for entertaining tangents.)

In November 2008, we had a lunchtime launch party, with speakers and a cake and about 40 guests who had in some way contributed to the success so far.

The week before, contractors were painting the bays, four cars were ready, and two more lined up to join them within weeks.

Thus far was the quick and easy bit, each week bringing something new.