Zipcar Leaves a Car Sharing Void in Downtown

As you point out Flexcar did improve it's downtown presence, but I think part of the problem with its inability to get cars where they should've been was something of a Catch-22: They never had (or couldn't keep) a full-time sales rep who would've been able to mine those new developments -- but even if they had, the company didn't have the vehicles available to place.

I've been a Flexcar member practically since its inception in L.A. and in those five years I attempted to use the service three times -- twice successfully. The failed time was due to a broken card reader in the Eco Village-based hybrid. The main reason for my poor record of usage was that it just wasn't practical. Cases in point: the last time I used Flexcar was totally frivolous. I had a $10 credit on my account (from that failed reader experience) so I biked downtown checked out a Mini and just drove it around for a couple hours last August. Then in November I had one of the USC-stationed Honda Elements reserved to use for a weekend trip to Death Valley, but canceled at the last minute and went with a Hertz rental when I realized I'd go weeeelll over the 180 mile-per-day allotment and Hertz would be cheaper.

I definitely would've used the service more had a vehicle been more convenient to my Silver Lake location, and sadly ZipCar's contraction of vehicles comes at a time when the city is considering a plan to allow dedicated on-street parking spaces be reserved for shared-use cars.

When I learned of the merge had high hopes for ZipCar and activated my new membership card the day it arrived last week. But in the wake of this extreme and unannounced (or at the least poorly presented) redeployment, I have even less faith in them then I did in Flexcar. I may keep my no-annual-fee membership active for awhile as a precaution in case they get their act together and this campus-centric plan is just for the short term, but only because it doesn't cost me anything.

This is sad news.

I had a ZipCar account in NYC, and was disappointed when I got to L.A. in 2005 to find that ZipCar was not here. (I was not aware of FlexCar.) I had planned to get an accoutn, but like Will, I knew I would not use it much so there was no urgency in applying. I might still do so, as USC is on the other side of town and not too difficult (three buses via as many agencies to get over there, but all brief rides). I was unaware that the Eco-Village had a car contracted there. First and Vermont, correct?

The ZIP CAR mess hits me where it hurts. My wife and I live in DTLA, she works by the airport I work in the financial dist., so I walk to work and she drives.

After selling our 2nd car 2 years ago I signed up for flexcar, 1 car across the street from our loft, and several around my office. I would use flexcar about 4 to 10 times a month for Dr. appointments, family, shopping, work functions etc.. Now it's all gone. I get the rental car thing for non car people and weekend trips and I still use public transit when I can BUT the removal of the flexcar and or zipcars is crushing.

I joined flexcar when my car died and I was going carless for a year and a half. I used the service around 15 or so times and was not really impressed. The idea is great and sometimes it worked perfectly, where the car was just where I needed when I needed it, but on two occasions the car I had reserved wasn't where it was supposed to be. Once they sent me to three places to find the car after I called to say that it wasn't where it was supposed to be. Another time I had to sweet talk the attendant at the Pershing Square garage because Flexcar hadn't paid their parking bill. Duh!

Add to that the fact that as an Echo Park resident I had to take the bus downtown to get a car, and it became more of a chore than it was worth. They needed to have more cars and better tracking in order for the service to be a reliable alternative to owning a car.

Bustard: Yes, Eco Village is at 1st and Vermont (actually a block or so east of Vermont, south of first). I'm pretty sure Zipcar's taken that vehicle away too and if so I can only bet the Eco Villagers are pretty steamed.

AFS: I agree it does suck for us all. However, tell your wife to take transit, since she works on the Rail line, its safer, and save you lots of money. That way you'll have a spare car to make the short trips around town while she's at work.

I'm upset that Zipcar pulled out of downtown. Who will step in to fill the void that Flexcar left?