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New York City plans to reserve hundreds of spots across the city for car-sharing vehicles like Zipcar, officials said Thursday — expanding on its 285-spot pilot launched in 2018.

The Department of Transportation declared the test-run a “success” — noting that the 285 spots saw more than 150,000 total trips over those three years, rounding out to an average of 24 trips per month per space. Each vehicle was shared by 17 people per month.

“This Administration predicted that New Yorkers would come to embrace the cleaner and greener alternative that more convenient carshare offers,” DOT Commissioner Hank Gutman said in a statement. “And 150,000 rides later, the unqualified success of our pilot proved us right.”

Created at the city council’s behest, DOT’s initial pilot was limited to 14 zones in neighborhoods such as Inwood, Washington Heights, Harlem, Parkchester, Red Hook, Jamaica, and the Rockaways.

While removing parking for car-owners is a contentious issue in the Big Apple, DOT argues the program may actually lighten the demand for curbside space.

Customer surveys found 7 percent of participants sold their cars or opted not to purchase a car because of car-share, DOT said.


  The DOT will add hundreds of spots to the current total of 285. Christopher Sadowski The DOT will add hundreds of spots to the current total of 285. Christopher Sadowski

UC Berkeley researchers working in collaboration with the city, meanwhile, found every one car-share vehicle in the city replaced four other cars.

DOT is working on official rules to govern the program’s expansion, the agency said.

One rule is certain: the new phase will require companies to pay more for spots.

While the city previously required a $765 nominal entrance fee, companies will now have to pay an annual fee “of up to $500” for every two parking spaces they use, DOT said.

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