"I've gained freedom" with Community Car

Monday, August 06, 2007

From an article by Alec Luhn in the Wisconsin State Journal:

One Saturday afternoon, Madison real estate agent Brent Sainsbury, 29, was called away from an open house for an unexpected meeting. But he couldn't find his car.

He didn't even know exactly what it looked like, since he had never actually seen it before.

Sainsbury eventually found the Community Car he was looking for and made it to his meeting 20 minutes late. He was upset, but finding a last-minute vehicle in a strange part of town can be one of the challenges of car sharing, he said.

Community Car is a 4-year-old car-sharing service in Madison that has been growing in popularity as environmental concerns have come to the forefront.

Sainsbury joined the Madison car-sharing service three months ago, and in June he "divorced" his childhood dream car, a BMW, at a ceremony sponsored by the program. Since he joined, Sainsbury has relied solely on Community Car's fleet of 13 vehicles for his car needs.

Although he's had to restructure his life, Sainsbury said he's leading a better life.

"It's the most rewarding decision I've made in a while, right up there with buying a puppy and a house that I love," he said.

He's healthier from biking more often, more organized and less stressed over his car, Sainsbury said. He estimated he'll save about $10,000 next year now that he's selling his BMW.

"Having a car is both a luxury and a curse," he said.

Sainsbury said he's seen benefits in his business and personal life from being less dependent on a car.

"Hands down, I've gained freedom," he said.