Car2go's shared Smart cars are everywhere in Seattle and we could soon see hundreds more from other companies.
A city council committee just advanced a proposal which could more than quadruple the number of car sharing permits and allow up to four total operators as soon as next year.
At the Hillman City Collaboratory, a community center, Benjamin Hunter has noticed a pattern.
"They'll go all the way down Orcas St. into Seward Park and there's usually about two or three stacked here on Rainier Ave." he said, gesturing toward a line of parked blue and white smart cars.
"They're all over the place," he said.
They end up there because it's the boundary for Car2Go service. You can't leave one any farther south.
A lot of drivers have no choice but to get out and walk.
"I'd be curious to know how far south some of these people have to go after they drop off their car," said Hunter.
Some lower-income parts of Seattle are essentially cut-off from service because of those boundaries, but that could soon change.
The Seattle City Council transportation committee just approved a plan which could drastically expand car sharing, by offering up to three thousand permits spread among four companies starting next year. There are currently 500 car sharing permits and just one operator, Car2Go, which serves about two thirds of the city. Under the proposal, companies that agree to cover the entire city would initially be offered more permits than those covering just a portion.
The full council votes on the measure next week. Mayor Ed Murray already said he supports an expansion.
"It would be really nice to have it available farther south," said Hunter.
