Fewer personal cars on the road. Less congestion. Cleaner air and more land for people, housing and open space.

Those are just some of the social and environmental benefits that car sharing can provide for its members and the cities in which they live. That assertion is according to car sharing network Zipcar’s 2018 Impact Report. The report is based on findings from 18 years of Zipcar member data as well as from third parties.

Zipcar says the findings, along with third-party research, offer evidence that car sharing provides those social and environmental benefits at a time when new mobility offerings are on the rise.

Additional findings of the study include its claims that car sharing frees up space for other pressing urban issues; car sharing sheds personal vehicles and helps the environment; and that car sharing delivers distinct social benefits.

Citing a 2010 article titled, "Impact of Carsharing on Household Vehicle Holdings," the study claims that Zipcar’s 12,000 vehicle fleet means an estimated 156,000 fewer cars on city streets. It also claims that 54 percent of Zipcar users report getting rid of a personal vehicle after joining Zipcar.

The study sources Zipcar’s 2018 National Transportation Survey in adding that 65 percent of Zipcar users report not owning a car today.

Zipcar uses that same survey in stating that its users rely on walking, biking and public transit for short trips and use car sharing services for longer, purpose-driven or recreational trips to out-of-town locations.

Also using information from the 2018 National Transportation Survey, Zipcar notes that 87 percent of Zipcar users spend less money per month on transportation when compared to the U.S. monthly average.

Zipcar’s 2018 Impact Report also addresses collaborative public/private partnerships, and the increasing mobility needs of non-profits. Zipcar’s Grant Program aims to address those two items in its mission to enable simple, equitable, and responsible urban living.

The company says that in 2018, it awarded more than $100,000 in driving credit to 36 local non-profit organizations in various cities where it operates. That allows these organizations to improve their work through access to Zipcar.

Zipcar’s 2018 Impact Report is available at www.zipcar.com/impact.