The problem with owning a car in a city… let’s face it: there are times when owning a car can be very convenient. Whether you want to carry home a large load of groceries, take a trip out into the country on your own schedule, or move stuff from point A to point B, a car can make all the difference in the world. However, there are a large number of negatives to go with those advantages. The cost of insurance, car payments, and gas can really add up, not to mention the difficulty of finding parking in an urban environment. For many people, the nightmare of dealing with car repairs, oil changes and tires keeps them off the roads and on public transit.
A solution to the problem
What if there was a way to enjoy all the benefits of a car without having to deal with the overhead costs? This is the solution proposed in Montreal by Communauto. Communauto is not at all like a standard car rental company – they are in fact an organization which requires yearly membership. Membership gives you many benefits. For example, you can rent a car for as little as 30 minutes – something that would be impossible to do at Avis or Hertz. Communauto also pays for all of the gas that you use during your trip – no need to return the car with a full tank. Billing is done on a monthly basis, and renters are required to fill out a trip card which denotes the distance that was driven during their rental period.
One of the most convenient aspects of Communauto is the fact that it is a true 24 hour service. What this means is that the company can be contacted at any hour of the day to reserve a car by internet or by phone. Not only that, but cars can be picked up and dropped off at locations all over the city – there is no specific lot to which all cars must be returned.
Environmental initiative
Communauto is committed to providing Montrealers with a more ecologically-friendly option to car ownership. To this end, they have formed a partnership with Montreal’s public transit authority, the STM. By purchasing 12 monthly metro / bus passes, you can enjoy membership in Communauto for only $5 per month. This transit combination means that as an inhabitant of the city, you would be completely covered for any of your transportation needs, at an extremely low cost.
The only real downside to using Communauto is the fact that the vehicles available from the service are typically subcompacts. These small cars are great for fuel efficiency and easy to park, but they are not the most practical if you are hoping to go down to the hardware store and pickup a pallet of 2×4’s or a barbeque.
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