Downtown Lake Oswego Carsharing Study

Downtown Lake Oswego Car Sharing Study

(PP 07-0012)

Background

In 2007, the City of Lake Oswego was awarded a grant from Metro to study the feasibility of establishing a carsharing program in downtown Lake Oswego.

To determine the level of interest in this program, the City is surveyed residents and businesses located within 1/4 mile of the potential locations for carsharing vehicles.

Thank you to everyone who participated in the survey!

Survey Results

Among survey resopondents, there was a significant level of interest in joining a carsharing program, both in the next two years and the next ten years.

Residential respondents were most interested in using the vehicles for personal errands and recreational day trips, and the vehicle type preferred by most respondents was a hybrid. Of the four potential locations for carsharing vehicles, City Hall and the Public Library ranked highest, with the Trolley Parking Area and State and Wilber sharing the third choice ranking.

The top three factors that residents said would encourage them to use a carsharing program were:

Good locations and ease of accessibility
Cost savings (gas, insurance, maintenance)
Ability to downsize on number of cars owned

To learn more about the study, you can read or download a full version of the Downtown Lake Oswego Carsharing Feasibility Report from this web page.

Future announcements about carsharing in Lake Oswego will be posted the City's web site. If you want to stay informed about carsharing developments in downtown Lake Oswego, contact Susan Millhauser, Sustainability Planner, at 503-635-0291.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Carsharing?

Carsharing is a program that allows a member to use a car by the hour or day in a central location for a low fee. Programs usually include an annual membership and fees that cover gas, insurance, and car maintenance. The idea behind a carsharing program is that members can reserve a car when they need it, pick it up at the designated location, and use the car for the time allotted before returning it for another member to use. Carsharing has become popular for its flexibility and cost savings for members. It is also considered an environmentally conscious alternative to using a car without actually having to own a car.

Why is the City Interested in Carsharing for Downtown Lake Oswego?

Carsharing programs have demonstrated many benefits in the Portland metro region and other cities across the Country. Key goals for a carsharing proram in Lake Oswego include:

Provide an additional transportation option for those who work or live in downtown Lake Oswego and the adjacent neighborhoods;
Decrease car ownership, single-occupancy vehicle trips, and parking
demand in downtown Lake Oswego;
Reduce emissions by lowering overall vehicle miles traveled (VMT) and
employing clean fuel vehicles (e.g., gasoline electric-hybrid cars);
Increase mobility options and connectivity among transportation modes;
and
Provide cost savings since customers pay per use, sharing the costs of the
vehicle lease, maintenance, repair, and insurance.

What if I'm Interested in Carsharing in Lake Oswego, but don't live or work in the Downtown area?

Downtown was selected for the study because it has characteristics that have been demonstrated to support the success of carsharing programs:

Walking distance to public transportation
Population density
Mix of uses and users (residential & commercial in close proximity)

Downtown Lake Oswego is also designated as a Town Center as part of the regional growth strategy, which means that it's intended to provide housing, jobs, and services and be well served by transit.

If you'd like to learn more about how carsharing works, contact Sarah Selden, Assistant Planner, at 503-697-6524.