An article in the Sept. 5 Business section about shared car services incorrectly said Flexcar recently posted an inquiry about available parking spaces on a Yahoo group message board. Another company, Zipcar, posted the message.
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Car-Sharing Merges Into the Mainstream
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Flexcar has "a solid profitable business model applicable in different markets in different growth stages," Norman said. "We're about growing and expanding a profitable business plan." Profitability, he said, "is a longer-term horizon than next year."
Norman said that having both firms in the District helps build awareness of shared cars, which helps both companies. In this region, many Flexcar members are also Zipcar members, giving people access to more cars at a price that can be lower than buying a car and paying for insurance, gas and maintenance.
"There's been an evolution of the business," Malloy said. "There were definitely early adapters -- people who originally thought of this as a really green service. From 1999 to 2001, people were like, you had to be a tree-hugger. Now we're seeing this is becoming a true transportation category. The mainstream person is thinking about car-sharing as a transportation solution."
With the growth there has been some tension. Over the past year, residents in parking-strapped Adams Morgan complained about the city giving parking spaces to the two firms for free. Both companies have had to raise their prices slightly to adjust for higher gas prices.
Hard feelings still exist for some residents. In June, Flexcar asked about parking availability for more cars on a Yahoo group message board for the Adams Morgan neighborhood, sparking a fresh debate on the topic.
A posting by someone with the username Trudi Davis said: "Great, like there's so many extra parking spaces in Adams Morgan for those people who actually LIVE here. Why don't you rent space in a garage and let residents have the street? Your posting convinces me never to use or recommend zip cars."
Zipcar and Flexcar said they rent some privately owned spaces and use some free street spots. Both companies argue that their presence results in fewer cars on the streets, as many members say they have delayed a car purchase or sold their own cars. Citing internal and third-party studies, the companies say one shared car results in 15 to 20 fewer cars in the city.
Cleveland Park resident Susanna Beiser said she joined Flexcar a year ago when gas prices started to go up. She has put off buying a car.
"I'm not really one of the 'green' people who joined because of the hybrids. To tell you the truth, I don't love the hybrid," Beiser said. She said she uses the car service mostly to rent for the day or weekend and finds that it often beats the price of rental car companies.
"I wasn't sure whether I needed a car. I was using my car once week on the weekend and trying to decide, do I even need a car?" Beiser said. "I have not made that decision forever -- but for now."
