Car Sharing Launched by Citizens

A Japanese incorporated non-profit organization, the Shiki-no-wa (wheels for Shiki) launched a small-scale car-sharing system run by citizens in May 2004 in Shiki New Town, a large apartment complex (3,300 units) located in Shiki City, Saitama Prefecture, to the north of Tokyo.

The lack of parking spurred residents to take action. The city has only limited space and funds to expand parking space, and many residents opposed turning green space into parking. These issues brought together volunteers to study car sharing, and they were able to create a system with a small group of people who share a privately owned car.

Japan has stringent laws for automobiles that require all the possible drivers to register their names when they share a privately owned car and to report the maintenance conditions of the car to the authorities on a periodic basis. The regulations have made it difficult for citizens' groups to start car sharing . In the past, it was thought that car rentals would be the only way to make car sharing possible, but the Shiki residents' enthusiasm helped them overcome the complicated procedures. This case is the first car sharing group in Japan to be initiated and managed cooperatively by citizens as the car users.

The Shiki-no-wa group aims to expand their small-scale car sharing system nationwide by calling for deregulation of the complex procedures, which they see as obstacles to the movement.




Posted: 2005/05/15 04:00:38 PM
Japanese version