This is it:
.
The people are MoDoites. And here’s the reason they’re exuberant:
Founded 16 years ago with two cars in Vancouver’s West End, Modo The Car Co-op is celebrating a milestone achievement this month, adding its 300th vehicle to the fleet. The region’s only local carshare co-op will also double its fleets in both Surrey and Richmond and place its first vehicle in Coquitlam this fall.
Modo’s 300th vehicle found its home at the District Main residential development, at Main Street and East 28th Avenue in Vancouver. Modo and District Main worked together to expand multi-modal transportation options for residents of the rental property, placing the vehicle conveniently in the building’s underground parkade for use by any Modo member. To make it happen, Modo provided the car – a shiny red 2014 Nissan Note – and District Main provided free parking and broad communications support, both in the building and amongst neighbourhood allies.
Car-sharing is one of those things – so full of good intentions – that might not have made it if it only relied on, well, good intentions. But it has survived and prospered – enough to attract for-profit competitors. And given the decline in driving (which is so upsetting to some and/or counter-intuitive to others that it’s barely acknowledged), something important is surely going on out there.
Something worth celebrating.
Gord – 16 years ago would make it 1997, the year that the COV’s Transportation Plan was adopted ( you were on that Council). The TP team was led by now City Engineer Peter Judd and if I recall correctly the enabling policy for car- sharing – and curbside parking for it, no small challenge – was the baby of planners Brian Riera and Christine DeMarco.
Congratulations, Modo!