SAN FRANCISCO - City CarShare and the City of San Francisco have stepped up efforts to save money and lower the City's carbon footprint by entering a formal agreement to extend car sharing to City employees. As of July 1, employees of the City and County of San Francisco have full access to City CarShare's vehicles, in addition to the City's fleet. As the City retires its older vehicles, City CarShare's fleet will provide cars for business needs without the City having to purchase new vehicles. The arrangement offers the City a way to manage a smaller vehicle fleet, with lower purchase and maintenance costs, and reduced greenhouse gas emissions.

"By partnering with the Bay Area's only local car share provider, the City and County of San Francisco will save tax payer money by encouraging transit-oriented sharing and by reducing car replacement and maintenance costs," said Mayor Gavin Newsom.

"By partnering with the Bay Area's only local car share provider, the City and County of San Francisco will save tax payer money by encouraging transit-oriented sharing and by reducing car replacement and maintenance costs," said Rick Hutchinson, CEO of the nonprofit City CarShare.

With gas, insurance, and maintenance included with its service, City CarShare is giving the City a way to cut its transportation costs-and green its ride. Over 35 percent of City CarShare's fleet is comprised of hybrid electric vehicles, and all vehicles in its fleet are top-ranked for fuel and emissions efficiency. And with City CarShare's reservation system, which allows members to reserve cars in 15-minute increments, fewer cars will serve more City and County employees.

Since launching in San Francisco in 2001, City CarShare's members have collectively driven 100 million fewer miles and saved over 130 million pounds of CO₂, the company reports. According to an independent study, City CarShare members walk, bike, and take public transit more after joining the service. They also shed cars, many of which are older and bigger polluters.

With this official partnership, the City and County of San Francisco and City CarShare are continuing to find ways to decrease oil dependency. For example, San Francisco will be seeing more programs, such as the City's Green Vehicle Showcase at City Hall, where City CarShare has a plug in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) available to all its members.