LADOT

Car Share Parking in Los Angeles

The City of Los Angeles is partnering with Zipcar, the world's leading car sharing company, to provide access to vehicles by the hour or the day in highly populated areas in Hollywood, as well as near the University of Southern California and the University of California, Los Angeles. The Los Angeles Department of Transportation has identified ten specially designated parking locations in each neighborhood for the exclusive use of the car sharing vehicles during this pilot program beginning this summer.

The pilot program is designed to give residents an alternative to owning their own cars, and the related costs of parking, insurance, depreciation, fuel, and maintenance, which add up to $8,000 per year for the average driver. For car sharing users, all of these costs are wrapped up in a flat hourly rate starting at $8 per hour, and users only pay for the time that they are driving around.

Zipcar allows Los Angeles residents to set up their car reservation from their home computer and at the start of their reservation time, hold their Zip card over the little box stuck to the windshield.

Keys to the Zipcar will be in the glove compartment, and gas is provided by way of a gas card also found in the glove box, so the hourly fee is all that is paid by the user. Return the car promptly at the end of the reservation period so the next person may use the Zipcar.

LADOT is committed to supporting alternative means of transportation that help promote a clean environment and ease traffic congestion in the City of Los Angeles, including car-sharing programs, public transportation, bicycles and taxis. Upon the successful implementation of the pilot program, the City will consider expanding 'car sharing' to other areas in Los Angeles. For City Council reports on motions regarding 'car sharing,' please visit the City Clerk's website and search for "car sharing."

Comments regarding car sharing programs can be shared with LADOT by calling the Department's Preferential Parking Operations at 213-473-8285.