Flexcar Program Works Wonders for Westside Commuters

Thanks to Flexcar, employees of Norm Thompson
Outfitters and OHSU's West Campus have a flexible
alternative for getting around the Westside.

This year, Flexcar and TriMet launched partnerships
with Norm Thompson Outfitters and OHSU. In January
2003, Flexcar provided a Honda Odyssey minivan at the
Orenco Station MAX stop. During commute hours, the
minivan is used to shuttle Norm Thompson employees
from the MAX station to Norm Thompson's headquarters.
Between the commute hours, the minivan is parked at
Norm Thompson for use by employees to run errands or
provide transportation during lunch. At 7 p.m. and on
weekends, the Flexcar minivan becomes available at the
Orenco Station MAX stop for any Flexcar member to use.

Jeff Barr, the Flexcar driver for Norm Thompson, tries to
use MAX every day when commuting from his residence
in Northwest Portland. Another Norm Thompson
employee, Phillip Wiant, is a loyal Flexcar user.

"I love being able to leave my car at home, ride my bike,
and still be able to get lunch. The terrific Honda Odyssey
makes the experience even better," Wiant said.

Due to budget restraints, OHSU decided to partner with
Flexcar and TriMet. Marilyn Lanier, Vice Provost for
OHSU's West Campus, researched the program and
considered it a good experiment.

"Our campus is growing," said Lanier. "Demand [for the Flexcar shuttle] will only increase." She is hoping that other institutes at the West Campus will promote the shuttle to their employees to increase ridership.

OHSU's West Campus, which began its Flexcar program July 1, has a set-up similar to Norm Thompson, but at the Willow Creek MAX station. OHSU's driver, Larry Martin, shuttles employees who work at the Neurological Services Institute, the Vaccine & Gene Therapy Institute, and the Primate Center between 8 and 9:30 a.m. and again at 4:30 to 6 p.m.

Martin, an OHSU employee for 25 years, enjoys the job immensely.

"I get to meet people from all over the world," he said.

Car sharing originated in Switzerland. The first car sharing program in the United States was CarSharing Portland, which merged with Flexcar. Flexcar is based in five major metropolitan areas: Portland, Seattle, San Diego, Los Angeles and Washington, D.C.. With fully-automated reservation and access systems, Flexcar members have a rapidly-expanding fleet of cars, trucks, and vans available to them — day or night.

In the Portland metropolitan area there are about 60 vehicles shared by 2,800 members. Portland's Flexcar members can choose from Honda Civics (including the hybrid electric versions), Mazda pickup trucks (for toting those large loads from your favorite store), Saturn sedans, minivans, Toyota Prius (another hybrid electric vehicle), and even a Mazda Miata convertible.

The newer cars have a keycard system with a chip that is used to unlock the cars. Once inside the vehicle, members must use a PIN to start the car. This high-tech approach helps keep the cars from being stolen since the vehicles will not work unless specific steps are taken to prove a member's identity.

"Here in Portland, new members are joining Flexcar at a rate of about 150 members per month," said Steve Gutmann, director of business development and sales in Portland.

It's easy to see why Flexcar is growing. A lifetime membership in Flexcar is $25. Flexcar members can reserve a vehicle in any of the other Flexcar cities for their use.

Many members, who have completely given up their own cars, use Flexcar vehicles for errands, meetings or local trips. Members are billed at an hourly rate for the time they reserve the Flexcar vehicle. Gas, insurance and maintenance are built into the hourly rate. And, although the miles are not unlimited, each time members book a vehicle, 10 free miles are included.

Partnerships between Flexcar, TriMet and employers such as Norm Thompson Outfitters and OHSU solve three problems simultaneously: 1. It's an economical way to extend transit service to low-density suburban office parks. 2. A "company" car is available to commuters while they are at work. 3. Flexcar is able to expand into lower-density suburban areas, such as Washington County.

For more information on Flexcar, visit www.flexcar.com.

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