One million car club members by 2020

London could see one million car club members by 2020, according to new forecasts.

The capital wants to lead the way in developing and promoting car clubs. Encouraging further use of car clubs was a key recommendation from the Mayor’s Roads Task Force, which was set up in July 2012, to help deliver a template for world-class streets and roads fit for the future.

Previous research carried out by CarPlus earlier this year showed that every car club car effectively removes around 17 privately owned cars from the streets.  Car club members also tend not to commute by car or drive so much during rush hour, helping them save on average £3,000 per year.  Therefore, by encouraging more boroughs to include car clubs into their transport planning, boroughs can help reduce the number of short car journeys, reducing congestion and vehicular emissions from their roads.

Transport Minister Baroness Kramer said: “Car clubs can help reduce congestion and carbon emissions through less private car ownership, whilst still giving people the freedom and flexibility to use a car when they need it. The success of car clubs in London has shown how these clubs can offer people more choice about how they travel.”

Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, said: “London has one of the biggest car club markets in the world and the potential for further growth is huge. Our Roads Task Force is fully supportive of this forward-thinking industry, one which offers massive benefits in terms of reducing congestion, improving air quality and reducing competition in the battle for kerbside parking."

Leon Daniels, managing director of surface transport at TfL, said: “The use of car clubs in London has grown massively in recent years and we continue to support car clubs across London as a way to help reduce congestion. I myself am a regular user and welcome this positive action to further encourage use across the capital.”

Nick Lester, corporate director, services, London Councils, said: "The success of car clubs in many London boroughs shows how effectively they can meet Londoners’ transport needs, and reflects the partnership work of councils and car club operators. We hope boroughs will be inspired by the best practice framework launched today to position Car Clubs as an integral part of their transport infrastructure for the future.”