Super Eco

Photo credit: Luis Gabriel Rivas, flickr

I don't drive much any more. I didn't realize this until a few months ago, when I realized that I can predict when I will need the car: grocery day, mid-week produce  day, dining out night, piano lesson day ... It's a predictable routine that I can generally plan around with ease.

It's drivers like me who are perfect candidates for car sharing programs. Car sharing works for city dwellers who simply don't drive enough to justify the expense and hassle of owning a car yet need the freedom to drive when they want to. You get the convenience of your own car with pay-by-the-trip flexibility—and save big bucks for repairs, maintenance, insurance and parking.

Choose the vehicle that suits each trip best. Need to move furniture? You're not stuck standing helplessly beside your cute little Smart car—simply order up a truck or van. Reservation systems let you reserve by phone or internet 24 hours a day for a few hours, a day, a  week ... Short trips are most cost-effective, but you call the shots.

Car sharing services are growing across a network of U.S. and international metropolitan locations. Some cities have created their own local services. Chicago's non-profit I-GO service even offers Prius electric hybrids.

Find out where you can find car sharing in North America, then investigate these leading car sharing resources:

• Carsharing.net
• I-GO
• Zipcar
• e-Go