Inland Empire residents have a new way to drive around.
And it’s cleaner than driving a regular gasoline-powered car.
A partnership involving the city of Riverside, UC Riverside and others in April launched a new hydrogen-powered carshare program that includes a fleet of 12 four-door Toyota Mirai sedans.
Drivers can rent the zero-pollution cars by the hour using an app. They can pick up the vehicle at one of seven Riverside locations and return it later that day to the same spot. On their side, the cars have a green-and-white logo that says Riverside Clean Air Carshare.
“This is really about helping people get from point A to point B, especially those who might not own a car,” said Philip Nitollama, Riverside’s city traffic engineer. “It’s a great option for students, for families and for anyone in our community who just need a ride.”
A $1.5 million state grant pays for the program “to give more people access to transportation while supporting clean air and zero-emission technology,” Nitollama said.
The grant covers five years of the program, Nitollama said. The first year was a planning year and the grant will pay for four years of operations. Then the city will have to decide what to do, Nitollama said.
“It could continue,” he said. “But it would be up to the city and the operator to fund it on our own.”
By that time, the program should be established and he was confident the city would choose to continue the program.
The seven locations are:
- UC Riverside Center for Environmental Research & Technology parking lot, 1084 Columbia Ave.
- SSgt. Salvador J. Lara Casa Blanca Library, 2985 Madison St.
- Riverside Food Lab, 3800 Sixth St.
- Bobby Bonds Park, 2060 University Ave.
- On-street parking at Polk Street/Collett Avenue , 10715 Collett Ave.
- Arlanza Public Library – 8267 Philbin Ave.
- UC Riverside’s Lot 1 – West Campus Drive on campus
In addition to the city and university, other partners in the program are Mobility Development Operations, CALSTART and the California Air Resources Board.
To use the service, one must be at least 21, have a valid driver’s license and a clean driving record. There’s a one-time $20 fee to sign up.
After that, rentals cost $9 an hour (or $65 for a day). If one qualifies for a discounted rate, it’s $6 an hour or $50 a day, and the first 100 miles are free. Any miles after that cost 45 cents each.
Cars can be checked out at any time for up to 24 hours. Users will sign a rental agreement after they download the app.
If a drivers violates the agreement or doesn’t return the vehicle within the allotted time, their future privileges can be revoked or they could be subject to an additional surcharge, Nitollama said.
“The program was geared toward students who didn’t have a vehicle, and residents in nearby neighborhoods who might be in the same situation,” Nitollama said.
The locations were also chosen intentionally.
This grant was for disadvantaged communities, “so we made sure to place the cars in areas where people might not have many other transportation options,” Nitollama said.
The cars are managed and refueled by Mobility Development Operations, which runs carshare services in 14 states.
Rental prices are designed to be lower than Uber or Lyft ride fees, a UC Riverside news release states.
If there’s a breakdown or accident, users should call the police and contact the company using the app or website.
The pool cars are insured so drivers don’t need their own insurance. However, drivers may be responsible for up to $500 if an accident occurs and insurance doesn’t cover all the damage, according to the company’s website.
For more information, click here.
HOW IT WORKS
To join: Create an account using the Mobility Development Operations Carshare app. Upload the required documents.
To reserve a car: Use the app or website.
Pick up: At the time of the reservation, unlock the car using the app. No physical key or code is needed as the app unlocks the doors at the start of a reservation. The car key is inside waiting.
Drive: The car can be used to travel anywhere in Southern California.
Drop off: Return the car to the same location from which it was picked up. End the trip through the app.
Cost: Standard rate is $9 an hour or $65 for up to 24 hours (plus tax). Discounted rate (for those who qualify) is $6 an hour or $50 for up to 24 hours (plus tax). The first 100 miles are free. After that, it’s 45 cents per mile (plus tax). To qualify, people must apply and show documentation of their income.
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