Background | DOT Carshare

Research from across the country has shown that enhancing access to carsharing supports a reduction in car ownership and vehicle miles travelled among members. These outcomes help cities address the challenges of curbside parking pressure, congestion, and vehicle emissions.

Recognizing these benefits, City Council passed Local Laws 47 and 50 of 2017 requiring that the NYC DOT implement a carshare pilot program.

Legislative Mandate

On March 21, 2017, Mayor Bill de Blasio signed two carshare-related bills into legislation. One requires NYC DOT to establish a two-year carshare pilot program allowing qualified carsharing organizations to apply for designated on-street parking spaces, while the other mandates that the agency allow carsharing organizations to apply for designated parking spaces in municipal parking facilities. Together, these two bills create the framework and mandate for NYC DOT's carshare pilot:

Local Law 50 of 2017: To amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to establishing an on-street carsharing parking pilot program

Local Law 47 of 2017: To amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to establishing a pilot program for reserving parking spaces in municipal parking facilities

Legislative Mandate

Local Law 50 of 2017: To amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to establishing an on-street carsharing parking pilot program

Local Law 47 of 2017: To amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to establishing a pilot program for reserving parking spaces in municipal parking facilities

Pilot Goals

By improving New Yorkers' access to carshare, this pilot has the potential to:

Lower household transportation costs by providing reliable access to a car without annual car insurance and maintenance bills.
Shorten your search for parking by ensuring that carsharers always have a reserved space. Better yet, adding carshare spaces reduces personal car ownership, and that means fewer cars competing for the curb.
Improve access to jobs, services, and recreation by making a car available when you really need one.
Improve local air quality New Yorkers who use carshare drive less than those who own their own car. Less driving means cleaner air.

Pilot Goals

By improving New Yorkers' access to carshare, this pilot has the potential to:

Lower household transportation costs by providing reliable access to a car without annual car insurance and maintenance bills.
Shorten your search for parking by ensuring that carsharers always have a reserved space. Better yet, adding carshare spaces reduces personal car ownership, and that means fewer cars competing for the curb.
Improve access to jobs, services, and recreation by making a car available when you really need one.
Improve local air quality New Yorkers who use carshare drive less than those who own their own car. Less driving means cleaner air.

Academic Research on Carshare Impacts

Results from other cities show that carsharing has measurable benefits:

Round-Trip Carshare

23% to 32% of carshare members sold a personal vehicle
29% to 68% of carshare members delayed buying a personal vehicle
5 to 20 cars personal vehicles removed* per carshare vehicle
44% average reduction in vehicle miles traveled (VMT) per member

One-Way Carshare

2% to 5% of carshare members sold a personal vehicle
7% to 10% of carshare members delayed buying a personal vehicle
7 to 11 cars cars personal vehicles removed* per carshare vehicle
6% to 16% average reduction in vehicle miles traveled (VMT) per member

* Removed vehicles = sold and suppressed

Academic Research on Carshare Impacts

Results from other cities show that carsharing has measurable benefits:

Round-Trip Carshare

23% to 32% of carshare members sold a personal vehicle
29% to 68% of carshare members delayed buying a personal vehicle
5 to 20 cars personal vehicles removed* per carshare vehicle
44% average reduction in vehicle miles traveled (VMT) per member

One-Way Carshare

2% to 5% of carshare members sold a personal vehicle
7% to 10% of carshare members delayed buying a personal vehicle
7 to 11 cars cars personal vehicles removed* per carshare vehicle
6% to 16% average reduction in vehicle miles traveled (VMT) per member