Carshare model comes to Philly city fleet

For eight years, Philadelphia residents have had the option of sharing cars instead of buying them or going through a traditional car rental company.  Now the city Department of Human Services is taking a page from that playbook. 

DHS head Anne Marie Ambrose says the computerized car-sharing system takes reservations for the 25 vehicles available to social workers.  She says the Internet based system with access cards replaces a clip-board sign out sheet and hooks full of keys.

“It streamlines the process, it’s much more efficient and it’s available to workers when they need it and there’s a bunch of safety and security devices in the car to help the workers out who have to go into scary and dangerous situations,” said Ambrose.

The car will only start when the access card is presented at the proper vehicle at the scheduled time.

Ambrose say they’re trying to get the most out of a limited fleet of city vehicles.  If it is successful other city agencies are expected to follow suit.