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Aberdeen’s first-ever car club getting ready to roll out

The Granite City is just weeks away from the launch of its first ever official car club.

Aberdeen City Council has appointed Commonwheels to operate the club with the first phase set to launch in the city in April.

The city’s car club will operate on the same terms as many others across the country, with Commonwheels owning or leasing, and maintaining, a fleet of cars from which its members can book a vehicle whenever they need it. The club pays for tax, insurance, servicing, cleaning and fuel, with members paying a joining fee and a subsequent fee for each journey made.

The club will initially boast 10 vehicles, all with CO2 emissions of less than 100g/km, being spread across the city centre in reserved on-street parking bays for the public and the business community to use 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The first batch of cars will be situated in private parking bays along Queen Street, Little John Street, Albyn Place, Golden Square, Hollybank Place, Rosemount Viaduct and West or East Craibstone.

There will be three larger vehicles - Ford Fiesta Econetics or Kia Rios - as well as seven slightly smaller 'town' cars - five Kia Picantos and two Hyundai i10s.

The cars will be bookable either online or by phone, the cars can be booked by the hour, day or as long as anyone needs.

Signed up members take a smartcard along to the car, hold it over a reader and as long as they have a confirmed booking the car will open.

Enterprise, Planning and Infrastructure convener Councillor Kate Dean said: “I am very pleased that the city’s first official car club is almost ready for launch in Aberdeen.

“Evidence from the many other cities where clubs have been established suggests that car clubs are very useful for reducing car ownership, which will hopefully help to lower carbon emissions and ease parking pressures in the city.

“As part of our ongoing commitment to improving infrastructure in Aberdeen this scheme will give people a viable alternative to not owning their own car.”

Commonwheels was backed by Enterprise, Planning and Infrastructure Committee following a successful tendering process and feasibility study into the provision of a car club in the city. The study found Aberdeen was well placed to support a car club with a number of suitable on and off street locations for car club parking bays.

The study also identified the use of the pool car model as reducing initial capital investment and acting as a catalyst to allow further growth.

As well as raising awareness of the scheme, readying the vehicles and parking bays for launch, Commonwheels are currently looking to recruit a member of staff to promote the car club to residents and employers across the city.

Anyone wishing to find out more about the car club or should contact the Commonwheels office on 0845 6028030 or email info@commonwheels.org.uk.

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