BUDGET is in talks with three London Boroughs about creating car clubs like the one set up in Scotland.
Sales and marketing director Roddy Graham described negotiations with the London Boroughs as “advanced” and said Budget has also had enquiries from 16 other UK councils.
He added that the scheme, launched in Edinburgh city centre, has proved popular enough to be extended into the suburbs.
The car club, set up by Budget in conjunction with Edinburgh council, is a pay-as-you-rent scheme designed to cut down the numbers of people who own a car to drive short distances in the city.
Members, who pay a £99 annual fee, can book a car with as little as 15mins’ notice and pick it up from one of four parking stations using a personalised electronic key fob.
A satellite system tracks mileage and length of rental. Cost is from £4.50 for the first hour and £2 an hour thereafter, and there is a mileage charge.
“The City Car Club provides a way for residents to reduce congestion and pollution in their cities, but there may be ways we can use the technology to benefit travel agents,” said Graham. “For instance, agents selling a rail ticket to Edinburgh, could be able to book 2-3hrs short-term car rental as well.”
Budget is also promoting the idea of car sharing for commuters after acquiring Vipre, a Dutch company that specialises in car pool share services, in March 1998.
Its Driveshare scheme, launched last spring, is aimed at large out-of-town companies and provides mini-buses for groups of employees. One person drives the vehicle and the rest share the running expenses – typically £4.29 a day on a 24-mile round-trip journey.