Member Testimonial: Tim White

In 2007, I gave up car ownership for the adventures and cost savings of biking, walking, and using public transit across Western New York. In 2012, I was promoted to the role of Marketing Coordinator at Theatre of Youth (TOY), Buffalo's only professional theatre dedicated solely to child audiences. While TOY is an exceptional company to work for with great co-workers and good benefits, the wage I earn is typical of most non-profit administrators. On my salary, I can't reasonably afford reliable car ownership. Yet, for my job I often need to travel to the outer suburbs for meetings, promoting at events, distributing lawn signs, putting up posters, etc. As you can imagine, Buffalo CarShare quickly became the perfect solution for my needs.

Buffalo CarShare provides me with the expanded reach that I need as a professional. Just this past Wednesday, I reserved a CarShare and visited Sweet Home middle school in Amherst to speak with teachers about bringing their students to the theatre. Without Buffalo CarShare, I wouldn't have been able to reach the school and I wouldn't have been able to transport all of the flyers, brochures, and equipment that I needed for the job.

Buffalo CarShare is not only essential for my work; but it has also allowed me to live a rich and vibrant lifestyle on a modest income. I know for a fact that the majority of the dollars I would have sunk into car ownership are being poured right back into our local economy. I love that I live in a city where I have enough disposable income left over to pay for the amazing music, art, theatre, and food that Buffalo's talented citizens create.

With some of the savings that CarShare affords me, I recently took up my lifelong dream of learning to play the cello. When I need to transport my cello, Buffalo CarShare is there for me. If my cello needs repair or maintenance, I simply reserve a CarShare and whisk the unwieldy instrument to Monaco's, a specialty strings shop in Getzville. In this example alone, every dollar I'm not spending on car ownership is staying in our local economy; whether it's for the lessons that a local professional cellist gives me or for the family-owned shop that rents out and maintains my cello.

In closing, losing Buffalo CarShare would be detrimental to my adventurous low-cost lifestyle. I have loved living in Buffalo over the last several years, but losing Buffalo CarShare could be a deal-breaker for me. If the city of Buffalo and the state of New York can't find a way to continue to support my simple and environmentally responsible lifestyle, if the state of New York refuses to pass insurance legislation that encourages the kind of brilliant grassroots innovation that Buffalo CarShare represents; then I will simply take my entire future, potential family, friends, taxable earnings, and home ownership to another growing city in another state.

I hope it doesn't come to that.

Thank you to the entire staff of CarShare for continuing to fight for an incredible service that truly makes a huge impact on the lives of its members and on our community as a whole. You have my support.

Tim White - Member since June 2012

Member Testimonial: Lee Ann Rose

I have been an active member of Buffalo CarShare for five years.  Buffalo CarShare has allowed me the freedom to travel to parts of our area inaccessible by foot or bus. I am an individual who has a Social Security Disability income of less than $11,000 per year. The expense of owning a personal vehicle is out of reach, as are multiple cab fares. There are times when riding several buses, walking long distances in between while dragging my wheeled cart, are beyond my physical endurance. I can rent a Buffalo Carshare vehicle for five hours for the very reasonable sum of $56.00. This allows me to consolidate most of my monthly errands into one trip without bankrupting my bank account or painful wear and tear to my joints.

Every month brings a new assault on those who struggle at the bottom of the economic ladder. Every month is a new assault on our fragile climate. Buffalo Carshare has been a beacon of hope to members like me who try to live a sustainable life on inadequate means. Please don't allow the demise of Buffalo Carshare to be another nail in our nearly sealed coffins.

Sincerely yours,

Lee Anne Rose, member since April of 2010

Member Testimonial: Cherie Hall

Cherie has been a CarShare member for over two years. Her 15-year-old daughter is an avid environmentalist, and persuaded Cherie to get rid of their car. They have been using public transit ever since but found difficulties sometimes getting to doctor's appointments and to and from school on occasion. They rely on CarShare for the oddball trips that most of our members use it for, special occasions where having an access to a vehicle is the best and only way to get there.

"Without CarShare, we will have to pay a tremendous amount more, more than I can really afford -  it will impact what kind of food we will have in the house, and whether or not I can put money toward her college savings."

"This is my way of making sure the environment is as good as it can be, and that my daughter can hold true to her ideals, it's incredibly important to me." - Cherie Hall

Member Testimonial: Nancy Hutchings

"My name is Nancy and I am a grateful, frequent Buffalo CarShare user.

I use Buffalo CarShare weekly to do volunteer work with the elderly and individuals with disabilities for Canopy of Neighbors, a nonprofit agency that assists the elderly and disabled to age in place.

I drive our Canopy members to lunches and to other social events so that their lives can be enriched socially and emotionally. Also, through CarShare I'm able to drive our members to and from all kinds of appointments, especially doctor's appointments. This has a positive effect on their quality of life. I like to think I have a role in assisting our members to remain as healthy and vital as possible.

CarShare helps me to be an active member of my community. I no longer work for pay and no longer own a car of my own, so by having CarShare in the community, it allows me to do the important volunteer work I do. Using CarShare to volunteer in helping the elderly and disabled impacts my life in a very positive way. Getting out, meeting new people, and having a way to serve my community is very valuable to me.

Everyone I drive to appointments is always so grateful for the transportation I provide, to and from important doctor visits, buying groceries, social events, etc... Everyone always says a heartfelt "thank you" and I know they mean it.

Without CarShare, I would not be able to serve the seniors and individuals with disabilities in my community, who I have become so fond of in a very vital way. I would sincerely miss their friendship. I like to think that they would miss mine as well, for they have come to know and trust me too."

Member Testimonial: Melissa Campbell, Creator of Ultra Hoops

Melissa Campbell is the creator of Ultra Hoops, a fun fitness brand centered around the hula hoop. She hand make hoops, offers classes, workshops and special events. Check out her website and read on for how CarShare helps her follow her passions.

Www.ultrahoops.com

"Buffalo CarShare has enabled me to run my local business and is a major contributor to my success.

I frequently need a larger car or van to load gear like hoops and a portable display booth I use for events. I don't always need a large vehicle so being a CarShare member means I only use it when I need it.

I started my business with literally nothing, and I have slowly built it up to all that I have now. I heavily depend on being able to use CarShare! My business could fail if I am forced to use a different transportation option. The cost is low enough for me to afford to use the service when I need it. I use the car when I have meetings, and again, use the larger vehicles when I have events. Recently, I even used CarShare to go to a conference in Syracuse.

Renting a truck from a hardware store or a car rental place is so much more expensive and since I don't have car insurance, it becomes totally impossible for me to rent. Needing to use a van 3-10 times per month does not warrant me needing a van every day. I wouldn't be able to afford having a large AND a small vehicle. Buffalo CarShare has led me to be more flexible, more independent and has enabled me to follow my purpose in life.

When I had a car, my mind was consumed with worries and my wallet with more expenses. Its not only the insurance, maintenance and gas, but its also the parking problem. I used to have to include parking tickets in my budget because I live in the city - where there are so many parking rules on different streets and at different times.

CarShare is so beneficial to the community, the environment and to me personally. I have been able to stay in business because I have access to vehicles of varying size when I need them. Forcing CarShare to shut down will have a huge negative impact on me and my small business, as well as our community as a whole.

Please help save Buffalo CarShare and you'll be helping save other small businesses like Ultra Hoops!"

Member Testimonial: Catherine Wallace

"I came to live in the city in 2012 and joined Buffalo CarShare as a member in October of that year. As with so many other people, CarShare has allowed for so much to happen in my life.

CarShare has made a world of difference, allowing me to be a normal and productive member of society when, I have felt, my economic standing and abilities would have prevented me to be otherwise. In other words, this service is life altering to me and it is because of Buffalo CarShare that the quality of my life has been majorly improved.

In the past two and half years, Buffalo CarShare has been along the journey of getting me out of homelessness, to settling into a studio apartment. CarShare also made it possible for me to move out of that studio apartment and into an even better one, more suitable for me.

It has allowed me to get to doctor's appointments with providers that are not on metro bus lines - which has allowed me to get my health back under control. It has made shopping much easier. It has allowed for me to be at funerals, to be there for others in their time of need when they were there for me in mine.

Buffalo CarShare has allowed me to be with family, when normally I would not have been able to. It has allowed me to be with friends at special dinners, graduations and award ceremonies and to celebrate their milestones. More importantly, it has helped improve the lives of some of my friends.

Here's how it has not only helped me: I have two friends who can't drive, their doctors forbid them to because of their health. One suffers from severe seizures, frequent strokes and physical limitations. Another friend has severe mental illness that impedes her ability to drive. However, because of my membership with Buffalo CarShare, both of these folks have had their lives impacted as well. Whenever I have a car, it not only helps me take care of the things I need to do, it allows me to help these ladies help themselves to lead better lives. They would otherwise be home-bound. Getting groceries, medications and other daily needs would be much harder. Not to mention, it just helps them get out and enjoy the world. They don't have anyone else to help them, so the time that I spend with them using CarShare makes a difference.

Basically, it comes down to this, it is very hard for me to imagine what life would be like without having the option or ability to use Buffalo CarShare."

A letter from Jen: Buffalo CarShare's Communications Director

Before I started working for Buffalo CarShare in September 2013, I had no idea that it was possible to live without a personal vehicle. I also didn't realize how many of my financial struggles were due to the burdens of owning, maintaining, and constantly repairing my 2004 Pontiac Sunfire.

"Pamela" has seen better days, she helped get me through high school, college, and grad school

After searching for an appropriate position for nearly two years after finishing grad school, I fell on hard financial times and moved back in with my mother in Cheektowaga. At that time my car was beat up, it wasn't going to last much longer, and I could not afford to buy a new one. It was then I decided to take my car off the road. Ever since making that life altering decision, I have been able to move back into my own apartment and live completely independently. Buffalo CarShare means freedom from the burdens of car ownership. Buffalo CarShare means I can finally live the way I want to, with minimal transportation expenses, in a world that has always told me that owning a car means success. Now, I am ecstatic to be part of a community that focuses on creative solutions to transportation, helping people that don't have the option of buying their own car.

Officially taking my car off the road and turning in my license plates at the DMV: one of the best feelings I have ever experienced

I bike, walk, and take the bus almost everywhere I go. Most of my Buffalo CarShare trips are to the grocery store, doctor’s appointments, and to visit friends and family in the suburbs. I can tell you that this is what most of our members use the service for. If it doesn't seem to you that a service that helps people get food, medical attention, and see the people they love isn't life altering, I assure you, you are completely wrong. I have saved thousands of dollars in less than one year, and I have been the happiest I have ever been--all because I have access to cars when I need it, and only when I need it.

My new "car" - If weather permits, this is my main form of transportation. Over the winter I relied mostly on the bus, CarShare, my own two feet, and my wonderful boyfriend and his Subaru.

If Buffalo CarShare closes, I may be forced to buy a car, which is a sentiment that can be shared with most, if not all of our members. Our entire team at Buffalo CarShare lives the same way, we don't have our own cars and we love it. We are so happy to help our members live the same full and satisfying lives we do.

Mike, Xav, and I posing with our new truck that we received through an anonymous donation. We were thrilled last year when we could finally provide a truck again to all of our individual and non-profit members who need it!

This organization means so much more to us than a job. We have all been on an emotional roller coaster since this insurance crisis came to a head. We pour our hearts and souls into this organization daily. Our members know us by name and we know them too. The stories they tell us about why they came to use Buffalo CarShare inspire us to grow and expand not only in Buffalo, but in other cities where our service could help.

Buffalo CarShare has helped people get out of homelessness, find employment, be independent for the first time in their lives, get through college or grad school, start and grow a business, take care of sick and aging family members, and the list goes on and on.

We exist to serve the 30% of Buffalo’s population that live without a car. We exist for the people in Buffalo living at or near poverty, working to better their lives. We exist for entrepreneurs, students, environmentalists, people from around the country and around the world that are living in Buffalo temporarily. We exist to help Buffalo’s non-profit organizations further their missions. We exist for anyone who needs us. We are angry and heartbroken at what currently threatens our organization. Closing Buffalo CarShare would be a huge step backward for this wonderful city. Closing Buffalo CarShare would leave thousands of people stranded.

We will not give up, we will fight and work hard to find a solution. Please refer to our previous blog posts, Buffalo CarShare possibly ceasing operations. Urgent action needed!, Outdated NY State Insurance Law Puts Buffalo CarShare at Risk of Closure, for an explanation detailing our insurance crisis and ways you can help. This blog post will be the first of many stories about our members and how our organization changes lives in Buffalo. I'll be posting stories daily, and I urge anyone who has ever used Buffalo CarShare to share your story with me at jen@buffalocarshare.org. Send me as many stories as you want. Be open and honest. Let's prove that Buffalo CarShare is an invaluable asset to this city and our people and deserves a solution. As of right now CarShare exists only until June 15th. We have 28 days left. Rally with us.