»In which private industry gives the locals a run for the money

The Chronicle reports that Zipcar, flush with $10mm in VC largesse, are bringing their act to San Francisco. This is direct competition for the uppity local (and gov't-funded) City CarShare.

“There are hundreds of thousands, if not a million, people in San Francisco, Seattle, and Portland who could benefit from Zipcar.”

In the Bay Area, for instance, Zipcar sees the potential for as many as 1,000 cars. City CarShare now has about 90 cars available for sharing in San Francisco, Oakland, and Berkeley.

Zipcar uses the Internet, phones, and wireless technology to make cars available 24 hours per day to its members.

Here’s how it works: Each member gets a card, called a Zipcard. When a member makes a reservation online, or on an automated phone line, the member’s card is activated. When the member waves the card at the reserved vehicle’s windshield, the car unlocks.

Reservations can be made anytime between one minute and a year in advance. Members pay $8.50 per hour or $59 per day, and like most car-sharing programs, the price includes gas, insurance, cleaning, and maintenance costs.

The technology and policy are very similar to City CarShare and to Portland's FlexCar program, but perhaps having additional resources available will spread the use of carshare programs, rather than decimating the public service. Or then again, perhaps the West Coast is not capable of sharing cars?