The City of Hoboken and Connect by Hertz’s new “Corner Cars” program is being touted as the country’s first true city-wide car-sharing program.
It works like this:
The program is similar to the ZipCar program that already exists in Hoboken, where people pay an annual fee and can go pick up a car to use for as long as they need to. However, as a special incentive, through June 2012, Hoboken residents will be eligible to receive free membership (which typically costs $50 per year for the pay-as-you-go plan). Residents will still be responsible for a one-time $25 application fee.
The user can reserve cars online or by phone, then walk to the car’s designated on-street parking space and wave their membership card over the windshield to unlock the doors – the keys are already inside.
After signing up, users will be allowed to rent a vehicle by the hour, day, or week at various rates. Although $5 an hour could get you a two-seater Smart Car for a few hours, other rates vary. A standard sized vehicle in Hoboken starts at $8.50 an hour.
When finished using the car for the reserved period of time, the car is to be returned to the same location and the user will be billed automatically. Special parking spots are reserved for these cars, and no one else may park in them.
To find out more about the Corner Cars program or see where cars will be located, visit http://hobokennj.org/cornercars, email cornercars@nullhobokennj.org or call the Department of Transportation and Parking at (201) 653-1919.