Getaround, RelayRides offer peer-to-peer car sharing
Looking for a way to get around in San Francisco this summer? How about a Tesla Roadster for $50 an hour? Maybe a Subaru Impreza for $6 an hour is more your speed. With gas prices already spiking again following Memorial Day weekend, many prospective travelers are looking to peer-to-peer car sharing services to help them get around. The vehicles mentioned above are available in Northern California through a site called Getaround. This is not Enterprise, Hertz or Budget rental cars, but real people willing to lend their cars to perfect strangers to make a little money on the side. The founders of Getaround say America’s 250 million cars spend 22 of every 24 hours sitting idle, so why bear the cost on your own? Vehicles are available at hourly, daily and even weekly rates. In February, Getaround earned a $100,000 grant from BBRG, a brand innovation firm. RelayRides has created a similar ride-share network to service the Boston and San Francisco metropolitan areas. Founder Shelby Clarked transplanted the company to the West Coast from the East Coast thanks in part to $4.5 million in investments from Google Ventures and August Capital. In January, a California lawmakers passed legislation protecting car owners from liability should their vehicles be involved in a collision. Undoubtedly, public participation will determine how many more markets peer-to-peer car sharing will reach.
