TORONTO, Nov. 21, 2018 /CNW Telbec/ – Communauto FLEX is bringing free-floating car-sharing back to Toronto under the City’s new pilot program. Beginning this Saturday, November 24, Communauto FLEX will operate in the downtown core with 200 cars servicing 50 square kilometres. After the first phase of the pilot, the company plans to have more than 500 cars on the ground covering 100 square kilometres in Toronto.
Communauto FLEX is a new service created by Canada’s longest-running car-sharing company Communauto. Communauto president M. Benoit Robert received the City’s first permit under the new free-floating car-share pilot program from the Mayor of Toronto and Barbara Gray, the City of Toronto’sGeneral Manager of Transportation, on October 9.
“As a proud supporter and car-share member myself, I’m thrilled to welcome Communauto FLEX to Toronto. We know there are over 200,000 residents who use car-sharing services in Toronto, and that car-sharing has many benefits for the city and residents,” said Mike Layton, City Councillor, Ward 19 Trinity-Spadina. “Research has shown that car-share services can reduce car ownership, which potentially leads to reduced parking pressure on neighbourhood streets. I’m looking forward to seeing the positive impact Communauto FLEX will have under the city’s new pilot project.”
Communauto FLEX enables members to take one-way trips beginning in one location and ending in another. It has no monthly fees and is free to join, using a pay-as-you-go structure. During launch, users will receive the first 30 minutes of each trip free for one month after joining. Rather than being confined to a fixed location, Torontonians can pick up Communauto FLEX cars from and drop them off at legal on-street parking spaces within the service area, and drive anywhere they want to go in between.
“Over 1,000 Torontonians pre-registered for Communauto FLEX in the few days after announcing our intention to launch in Toronto, which is a signal to us that city residents are looking for a new transportation solution,” said Benoit Robert, Communauto president. “Our mission is to provide increased mobility for all with fewer cars on the road, and we’re looking forward to taking the first step forward by celebrating our launch with community members and partners in Toronto this Saturday.”
Toronto residents are invited to join the Communauto FLEX team on Saturday, November 24 at Boxcar Social Riverside, 4 Boulton Ave, Toronto, ON M4M 2J3, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Torontonians will be have the opportunity to sign up for an instant membership during this time.
Free-float zone
Communauto FLEX will launch in Toronto with 200 Hyundai Accent hatchbacks, servicing an area that will cover close to 50 square kilometres in the downtown core. The free-floating parking zone will span to High Park and Runnymede in the west, Dupont and Danforth in the north, and Victoria Park in the east. Metered parking spaces and Green P lots will be excluded from the service area at launch.
If the pilot project is approved after the first 18 months of operations, Communauto FLEX will expand to have more than 500 cars on the road and will grow its service area to cover 100 square kilometres, serving residents up to Eglinton Ave.
How it works
Communauto FLEX offers Torontonians 24/7 access to one-way carsharing and a simple way to improve their mobility inside and outside the city. Registered users can locate and reserve cars using the Communauto FLEX mobile app, and doors can be unlocked and locked using a smartphone or membership card.
The first 30 minutes of booking is free, giving users enough time to reach the vehicle, and drivers can stop and start their journey at any time. Daily trips begin at $0.41/minute, $15/hour, $50/day and $35 is charged for any days following. The first 150km is included in the price of each trip
To become a Communauto FLEX member, please visit: https://toronto.communauto.com/
More information on Toronto’s Free-Floating Car-Share pilot project is available at http://bit.ly/FFCarSharePilot2018
About Communauto
Founded in Quebec City in 1994, Communauto is the oldest car-sharing service in North America and the one serving the largest number of communities in Canada. With a fleet of more than 2,000 vehicles, the company serves 13 cities each one with a local approach. Among these Edmonton, Waterloo Region, Hamilton, London, Guelph, Kingston, Ottawa, Gatineau, Montréal/Laval/ Longueuil, Quebec City/Lévis, Sherbrooke, Halifax and Paris in France. Communauto group operates gas, hybrids and electric cars and offers both round-trip and free-floating carsharing.
