What are some of the defining features of the 20^th century? Maybe you think of the moon landing? Or the Internet? Rock and Roll perhaps? The private ownership of cars and their use in everyday life had just as much of an impact on society, which is what this article is going to talk about today – the future of mobility and how the recent rise of car sharing has changed the way we operate and travel.

Hitting the open road as we know it is set to become a thing of the past. As we’ve moved into the 21^st century, people have begun to realise the way we’ve used vehicles is no longer sustainable and needs to be brought into the modern world. But what does the future of transport look like and how does car sharing fit into it?

Some of the issues with our current usage of cars involve their large environmental impact. This is a wide issue, ranging from creating greenhouse gases to polluting the air and making high trafficked areas dangerous for peoples’ health. Beyond the impact on air quality, there is the issue of traffic and overcrowding. One of the solutions to tackling this crisis is to implement more car sharing strategies.

Car Sharing Platforms

There are many proving car-sharing solutions. Hiyacar is just one of them. Hiyacar focus on providing car-less drivers with access to their neighbour’s cars. The premise is simple, you login and find a car in your local area and book it. Cars spend so much time parked up, blocking the road, not being used. Imagine being able to just click a few buttons, fill in a bit of information, and you’re then able to drive off in a neighbour’s car for a small fee either on an hourly or daily rate. You get access to a vehicle without the wider costs of keeping a car and your neighbour earns some money for no extra work.

Driver Demands

Consumers are the force behind the car-sharing revolution, and it is their demands that are making car-sharing a more streamlined and accessible service. We are all acutely aware that we are living in a world where we need to consider the impact our journeys have on the environment. By car-sharing, individuals will no longer need to own a car and this will directly impact the number of vehicles that are being produced, maintained and used. This in turn will reduce your emissions and carbon footprint.

The other demand that we are seeing from drivers is the ability to stay on the road without having the pressure of owning a car outright. Cars are costly, so sharing allows drivers to get out on the road without the financial implications that come with owning a car. Fundamentally, drivers are left in a position where they can demand exactly what they want depending on their needs.

The Future of Mobility

Along with car-sharing, other mobility solutions are becoming more mainstream.

Some of the best options aside from car-sharing are:

E-bike sales have increased, and bicycle sharing is already popular.

There has been significant investment in improving train lines and the high-speed services are now making commuting easier than ever.

Electric vehicles are growing in number, as an example many black cabs and buses in London have converted to electric in a bid to reduce pollution. The introduction of the ULEZ zone is going to make this number markedly higher as well.

Summary

People still need to move between areas as efficiently as possible. With an increasing population and number of cars on the road, the old model of private vehicle ownership looks to be more and more antiquated. Services that provide car share options are beginning to lead the way in providing a service that allows people to get around without having to worry about finding money to buy a vehicle, maintain it or even park it every day. We also need to be mindful that the environment is a genuine consideration when looking at mobility requirements so that we can continue to enjoy our planet for as long as possible.

Guest Writer Sam Morris from Hiyacar