FlexCar

I am a member of the Johns Hopkins University Sustainability Committee. The Chair of this Committee has led an effort to bring Flexcar to our neighborhood. A local publication describes Flexcar as "a planet-friendly car-sharing program designed with cost savings, convenience, and conservation in mind."

There are four cars within the campus area. For the period when I wanted a car, three of the four cars were reserved, so I had to rent the most remote car, with "remote" meaning a fifteen minute walk (interesting mindset, eh?). It was a beautiful, warm, sunny, breezy day, so I welcomed the walk. I doubt I'll feel this way when it's cold and blustery (breeze seems to become bluster on cold days).

I was surprised--and disappointed--to note a Mini Cooper upon my arrival. It was my understanding that all of the Flexcars in our neighborhood were hybrid vehicles. One of the reasons I find Flexcar so appealing is the "sustainability" aspect of the program. The Flexcar instructions for activating the car, finding the key, initiating the session, etc. were excellent. Within no time, I had the car started. Getting moving was another matter...

I've rented cars dozens of times. I'm completely comfortable with a range of vehicles, but I found the Mini Cooper unusually disorienting. Why was the tachometer in front of me while the speedometer was in the center of the dashboard? At one point, I tried to raise the volume on the radio, but ended up downshifting while I was driving. After hearing the engine rev up, and noting the tachometer rise sharply (good thing it was in front of me), I quickly shifted up again. After some trial and error, I figured out the radio, and other features of the car. When I thought about why this particular car was disorienting, I realized that the Mini Cooper is a car aimed at the young and hip...I let go of that thought pretty quickly. I was pleased to note that a Flexcar email newsletter included a section on how to start the Mini Cooper, and how to navigate its instrument panel and dashboard. Maybe a lot of older folks are using Flexcars :-)

I drove the Flexcar to the pet store, the mall, and a local Trader Joe's. At the mall, I noted a sign about extended hours and a statement "Defining You." Before I sat down to eat, I returned two of the sauce packets that were given to me, only to receive a strange look. After I finished eating, I returned one of the sauce packets, only to receive an even stranger look. While I was eating, I saw another sign about "Defining You" through "Fabulous stores, great food." I left the mall after eating because, as much as I enjoy their food, I'm not sure I want to be defined by Chick-fil-a.

I parked the Flexcar in prominent locations so that the logo was easily visible. I wondered if anyone would ask me about it. No such luck. Given the ongoing attention to the price of gas, I was surprised that no one asked about this alternative, community-based approach to driving. On subsequent occasions using Flexcar when driving a hybrid vehicle (the Mini Cooper must have been there temporarily), there was still no reaction. I've rented FlexCars several times, but no one has ever said anything to me. Putting aside the sustainability aspects of Flexcar, I thought someone might ask out of sheer curiosity. Maybe Flexcar should make its logo larger on the side doors.

But then again, as I notice the typical range of cars on the road, the way people keep driving around the mall parking lot looking for that spot 30 feet closer to the entrance, or the fact that almost every car has one occupant, I realize that gas prices will have to be much higher before people in the US change their behavior. And gas prices will go up, and there will be a need for adjustment in behavior, and Flexcar will probably become much more popular.

I guess it's not surprising that people don't see the writing on the doors of the Flexcar given that they don't seem to see the writing on the wall.