Austin council OKs pilot car share program - San Francisco Business Times:

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The 12-month pilot program calls for a lease agreement for Smarf carswith , an arm of . The deal will mark car2go’sw entry into the burgeoning U.S. car-share During the pilot period, the city will offer publix parking spaces and spaces in city parkingv lots for the car share vehicles in exchange for an equivalent amounf of car2go driving timefor work-related use by city The city will use the pilot to determine whether long-term possibilities exist to postpone or supplement its own vehicle fleety purchases. Daimler also has the opportunitgy to partner with other public and privater entities as part of thepilot program.
City Managerf Marc Ott said the program has the potentiaol toreduce congestion, lower emissions and provided an innovative transit solutiobn alternative for Austin. During the pilor program, city staff will review options to create a regulatoryg structure that would encourage car sharingin Austin, whicy would ultimately be presented to the city counciol for approval. The car2go concept was originallt launched on a limited basisin Ulm, Germanyt last October. The Austin announcementt coincides with the expansion of the originaol Ulm pilot program to beginh offering service to thegeneral public.