Transport / Car club scheme trial to get underway soon
SHETLAND’s first “car club” scheme is about to get underway.
The joint initiative between Shetland Islands Council (SIC) and Enterprise Car Club will see eight shared vehicles involved in a trial.
Selected council and NHS teams will have access to a car club membership allowing them to book vehicles by the hour or day, offering a new method of fleet management for the local authority.
Membership options will also available for local businesses and other organisations.
But Shetland Islands Council’s environment and transport committee chair Moraig Lyall clarified that the club is also open to individuals.
“For the trial to be successful we need as many people as possible to use the new scheme,” she said.
“If you join as a member here, that membership will allow you to use cars all over the country”.
Seven cars and one van are due to arrive in Shetland on 12 April, and initially they will be available in Lerwick, Scalloway, Levenwick, Brae and Walls, with potential to expand into more locations.
The aim is to provide more flexibility and efficiency for the council, while supporting individuals and groups who do not own a vehicle to access to one when they need it.
Information and experience gathered during the trial will be used to help the council understand how the car club model could operate in Shetland and, if successful, could be adopted further.
Users will be able to access the vehicles by joining as an Enterprise Car Club member. More information can be found here.
They will be able to hire a vehicle by the hour or day, 24/7, on a first come first served basis using the Enterprise Car Club app.
The Enterprise Car Club website suggests the non-day rate for vehicles in Shetland will be from £6.50 per hour, while there is an “under 22” plan for younger drivers starting from £8.73.
There are also is a membership fee, and for the standard plan that would be £2 a month or £20 a year.
People would have to pay mileage too based on how far the vehicle is driven.
It is open to people aged 19 or over who have a valid driving licence and a valid major credit card or debit card in their name.
The scheme offers a ‘surrogate driver’ programme which allows a person with a disability to join Enterprise Car Club and add three additional surrogate drivers to their account at no additional cost.
Lyall said: “The partnership with Enterprise Car Club opens up a lot of benefits when it comes to running such a scheme here in Shetland.
“If successful, this project can help make our own fleet management more efficient, while providing an easy and affordable way for people to access a car when they need it.
“We’re looking forward to working with Enterprise Car Club to make this pilot a success.”
Dan Gursel, managing director of Enterprise Car Club, said: “We are delighted to be working with Shetland Islands Council to launch our car-sharing service to the islands.
“The pilot aims to showcase the potential of shared mobility to enable people to travel more sustainability and efficiently.
“By providing flexible and accessible vehicles, we aim to enhance transport for residents and local businesses across Shetland.”
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