FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 4, 2015
MEDIA CONTACT
Jennifer White
716-898-0850 ext 109
Expansion efforts underway in the Lower West Side, North Buffalo,
Downtown and Allentown
BUFFALO, NY – Buffalo CarShare (BCS), an innovative, non-profit carsharing organization providing affordable and environmentally friendly transportation, plans to expand to the Lower West Side, North Buffalo, and Downtown. BCS is looking for community partners to help close the transportation gap for these sections of Buffalo.
"Having Buffalo CarShare as a strategic partner has made it easier for employees to be able to choose greener commuting options over driving alone to work, which has allowed us to meet our goal of reducing employee parking demand, traffic congestion, and associated environmental impacts," according to Jamie Hamann-Burney, project manager for the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus Inc. "The partnership has also helped strengthen our surrounding neighborhoods by providing better access to a service that can truly improve quality of life."
Over the past six months, in addition to receiving a pickup truck through a private donor, the Buffalo-grown organization has acquired a wheelchair accessible Dodge Caravan minivan through a grant awarded by the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus and First Niagara. The grant funded the purchase of the Caravan from City CarShare in San Francisco, a benchmark organization in alternative transportation. Additionally, with help from the Erie County Department of Senior Services, BCS has since launched the program, Buffalo RideShare, to increase mobility options for people who are unable to drive themselves.
Buffalo CarShare has ambitious goals over the next year to expand to underserved neighborhoods that require increased transportation options.
Expansion requires multiple community partners to help the non-profit establish a new hub. Acquiring a parking space is difficult due to misconceptions of insurance liability, as well as the mistaken belief that removing a parking space will hinder traffic and ease of flow to the business of the lot owner. Carsharing services can actually help decrease the demand for parking in the long run, and draw increased foot traffic to the hub. Carsharing is a supplement to the most equitable and affordable transportation system, further cultivating walkable communities which attract jobs, young adults, families, and commerce.
BCS will soon be launching it’s first hub on the Lower West Side, hoping that this is just the beginning of providing increased transportation access to LWS residents. “For West Side Community Services (WSCS), a partnership with CarShare represents an invaluable resource for improving education, health & wellness, and financial capability in so many ways for our members and for residents in our community,” said Sandra Sheppard, Executive Director, West Side Community Services. “Locating a vehicle in our West Side parking lot creates a method of transporting small groups of school-aged children for monthly free admissions to local art museums; the same vehicle will allow friends and family members of senior citizens to volunteer their time driving to medical appointments; and the same vehicle will allow local residents who cannot afford a car, access to reliable transportation for job interviews and training.”
At the end of February, BCS lost a spot at it’s most popular hub location at Allen and Elmwood, the site for the new restaurant, Allentown Burger Venture, whose owners declined to renew a parking lease with the neighboring organization. Previously owned by the Quaker Bonnet Eatery, the lot behind 175 Allen has been a popular hub due to its extremely accessible location, in the heart of Allentown. An invaluable community partner for five years, the Quaker Bonnet Eatery proudly supported Buffalo CarShare with the donation of two parking spaces, as well as by avidly promoting the service BCS provides. BCS is currently looking for another similar partner in Allentown.
BCS is ingrained in the urban fabric of Allentown having been a community staple for five years now. BCS currently works with the Allentown Association, Allentown Extension Project, the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus, the Salvation Army, Cafe 59, and other Allentown organizations to provide increased transportation options for people who need it, as well as to alleviate parking issues--CarShare being a key approach in providing multi-modal options.
“Many of our residents do not have their own vehicles let alone parking spaces, and many use Buffalo CarShare as a second household vehicle. I personally utilize their cars and truck on a regular basis as well as for Association business. The availability of CarShare vehicles in Allentown is imperative,” said Andrew Eisenhardt, Executive Director, Allentown Association.
In addition to Allentown, Buffalo CarShare is now searching for partners to continue expansion in the Lower West Side near D’Youville College, as well as on Hertel Avenue in North Buffalo, and Downtown near Lafayette Square. BCS also has a longer term plan to expand east, near Kensington-Bailey. To become an innovator in transportation by helping to bring CarShare to any of these neighborhoods, please contact Communications Director, Jennifer White, at Jen@BuffaloCarShare.org or by calling (716) 898-0850 ext 109. For any additional information on carsharing, bikesharing, ridesharing, or other creative alternative transportation methods, please call (716) 898-0850 or send an email to info@buffalocarshare.org
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About Buffalo CarShare
Buffalo CarShare is a non-profit, community-driven organization that advances affordable and environmentally friendly transportation. The program serves 800 members with a convenient 19-vehicle fleet that includes gas, hybrid, and full-electric vehicles (including minivans and a pickup truck) available by the hour or day. Buffalo CarShare is supported by a range of local and statewide partners, and works with institutions such as the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus, Buffalo State, and other community-oriented organizations in order to adapt to changing transportation needs.
