Car sharing is a membership based service available to all licensed drivers in the community which allows them to use a car for a specific period of time and only pay for the time used and/or the distance travelled.

It is a convenient and cheaper way to use a vehicle, rather than owning a car, with benefits to the member and the overall community as it reduces the demand for street parking and car use, with subsequent reduction in traffic congestion and vehicle emissions.

Members of car share generally choose to drive only when it is essential or most convenient as there is a price on each trip, rather than incurring the overhead costs in running a private car.

Members of car share tend to choose to walk, ride bikes and/or use public transport more often for suitable trips. While some households choose to not own any vehicle, others reduce the number of cars supporting a household when they are a member of car share.

Car share can also provide access to a range of different types of vehicles for special purposes, such as vans for delivery of large items or when moving house, larger vehicles for a weekend trip away and smaller vehicles for short trips around town.

Fixed pod car share also provides comfort to members in that there is a dedicated space to park the car when it is returned at the end of their trip.

Members of car sharing services also report increased physical activity of walking and cycling and reduced transport costs.

Car share has been active in Waverley LGA for twenty years, commencing with a small trial of four vehicles, soon followed by a contract with two operators around fifteen years ago. Waverley Council adopted a Car Share Policy in 2012 which was based around a state transport based technical direction.

Due to the constraints of the existing Car Share Policy it is now difficult to provide additional dedicated spaces to both satisfy the existing and growing customer demand.

Car share operators are required to provide quarterly membership and usage data, as well as a report on an annual survey of members. According to the latest data provided for Waverley LGA, there are:

• Nearly 9,500 members of car share of which around 7, 600 are personal residents and 1,800 are business members. Members are usually drivers, rather than accounts.
• The total population of Waverley in 2024 is estimated to be 72,857. Personal membership of car share is therefore over 10% of the population, which includes children and others who are not licensed to drive.
• Every suburb in Waverley LGA has at least 140 members and Bondi Beach has the greatest number of members at around 2,500.
• There are 92 dedicated on street pods in Waverley LGA and a varying handful number of floating vehicles in unrestricted areas of Waverley LGA.
• The ratio of total members to pod is 102:1; Similar ratio for personal members only, is 83:1

The 2012 Car Share Policy is due for review. Since the policy was issued, Transport for NSW has updated their technical direction and it is less prescriptive, allowing councils greater freedom to determine their own requirements.

The current policy will be reviewed to determine how it can enable:

• Increased uptake in car share usage in accordance with demand, and
• Enable greater competition between car share operators.

This first stage of engagement is to:

• Consult with the community to determine the demand and specific requirements for car share
• Confirm the accuracy of information we receive from operators in Waverley LGA.