Buffalo CarShare is coming soon

BUFFALO, N.Y. Press release - Buffalo CarShare, a non-profit initiative of Green Options Buffalo, is making waves locally by planning to offer an inexpensive alternative to private vehicle ownership.

The organization seeks to provide the mobility of an automobile without the fixed costs, hassles, and environmental impacts of ownership. For those unfamiliar with the concept, car sharing offers use of a fleet of cars to a network of members for short trips.

As co-founder Michael Galligano explains, “You can borrow a car for things like a trip to the supermarket or the hardware store for between $5 and $8 an hour. It frees you from the need to own a car if you live in a walkable neighborhood.”

For now, those neighborhoods include Elmwood Village, Allentown, and the Lower West Side, but Buffalo CarShare expects to expand quickly. The non-profit was founded in June 2008 by a diverse group of Buffalo residents hailing from various backgrounds at the University at Buffalo, and after months of work, the team has had major breakthroughs.

With guidance provided from within the car sharing industry, such as the recently launched Ithaca CarShare, Buffalo CarShare has attracted interest from two state agencies.

The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) and the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) have announced funding totaling $149,000 – matched by $75,879 of co-funding from the Project Team.

Francis J. Murray, Jr., President and CEO at NYSERDA said:"We are pleased to support this initiative. Carsharing has been proven to reduce vehicle miles traveled, but is underutilized in upstate New York.

This effort complements Governor David Paterson’s Renewable Energy Taskforce recommendation, which calls upon state agencies to implement programs and policies that promote the efficient use of petroleum in the transportation sector."

NYSDOT Executive Deputy Commissioner Stanley Gee said, "Carsharing, an innovative concept that has increasingly gained favor in recent years, is convenient, practical and costeffective for users. The Buffalo CarShare concept provides 'mobility on demand' and can help ease congestion, decrease energy consumption and reduce New York State's carbon footprint."

Buffalo CarShare is also sustained by affiliation with the Wellness Institute of Greater Buffalo & WNY. The Wellness Institute has a long history of assisting non-profits get on their feet. Buffalo CarShare recently opened a storefront at 14 Allen St. near the Allen-Medical NFTA station and shares space with Allentown Association, which has been a strong supporter of the startup.

Buffalo CarShare will host a pre-launch fundraiser at 6pm on Saturday April 18th at Campieri’s Restaurant to kick off its general membership drive. In the meantime, those interested in becoming “Pioneer Members” can visit www.BuffaloCarShare.org. These “pioneers” will help accelerate the launch of BCS and can enjoy added benefits. E-mail inquiries can be sent to BuffaloCarShare@gmail.com.