SEATTLE — Car share company Car2Go is expanding in Seattle. On Tuesday, Car2Go announced they have expanded their service area to the entire Seattle city limits and 250 additional vehicles will be rolled out to provide more access for members. With the addition, the company now has 750 cars.
However, not everyone is happy about this move. People parking in crowded parts of town have already seen valuable spaces taken up by the Car2Go vehicles.
“That would be a concern,” said saw Angela Keomalavomg, when she found out about the Car2Go expansion.
In 2014, KIRO 7 investigated and found out Car2Go vehicles occupy parking spots for thousands of hours each year. Cars sometimes sit for days.
Addressing the issue in an email on Monday, a company spokesperson said, "Car2Go vehicles typically move organically throughout the Home Area (PDF) throughout the day, experiencing only 1-2 hours of idle time holding a parking spot. For example, last year a single Car2Go was used 19 times by 17 members in a 24 hour time period! We also have a dedicated team in Seattle who work to move the vehicles every couple of hours and we will share that same commitment with the expanded Home Area in Seattle."
Car2Go essentially prepays Seattle for parking at a rate of more than a $1,000 for each car. The company also pays all extra meter times.
Now the city will get more money, while people who own their own cars will get fewer spots.
However, plenty of people do support and use Car2Go.
“I think it's good,” Heather Kraft said, as she hopped out of one. “Demand is high. It’s often hard to get Car2Go at peak times, commuter hours, Saturday nights, that sort of thing.”
The city of Seattle has authorized up to 3,000 car share vehicles in the city though various companies, during the next few years.
KIRO
