Car sharing coming to campus

Members of the McMaster and Westdale communities will soon have the option to drive wherever and whenever they like – without ever owning a car.

In partnership with McMaster, Hamilton CarShare will soon expand its services to campus, allowing the community access to their fleet of co-op owned vehicles.

“I think having a car on campus will be brilliant,” said Amy Skippen, a McMaster student who is already a frequent user of Hamilton CarShare. “It will be extremely convenient for people both on campus and in the neighbourhood.”

Car sharing works by reducing the costs associated with owning, operating and maintaining a vehicle. Members of the co-op can reserve vehicles ahead of time and pick them up at specific sites across the city. Members return the car at the agreed time and are billed monthly to cover basic gas and insurance costs.

McMaster will provide an underground parking space in the David Braley Athletic Centre to service the surrounding community in what will be a one-year pilot project.

Skippen says that having her own car is not always necessary, but having access to one when she needs it is “very handy.”

“The convenience of using CarShare is definitely the biggest benefit of it for me. I used to have my own car, and it was expensive considering I didn't need to use it all the time. But being able to drive to visit family, go to IKEA, or go out when a bus is unavailable is a huge plus. It has definitely filled a niche in my life.”