VITA DeMARCHI (left) and Eckardt C. Beck, of Synapse Partners in Syracuse, have co-founded CuseCar, a business project they say will rent cars to people by the hour in Syracuse beginning later this year. They are shown in their office at 325 E. Water St.
Syracuse, NY — Two Syracuse business partners have launched a car-sharing organization with plans to put at least 10 cars on city streets by late fall for people to rent by the hour.
CuseCar, a nonprofit corporation, was formed to give people the convenience of using a vehicle occasionally without the cost of owning it, said founders Vita DeMarchi and Eckardt C. “Chris” Beck.
Similar car-sharing operations have popped up in at least 20 American cities, including Ithaca, fueled by environmental concerns and increasing worries about the cost of gas.
Ithaca’s experience has been encouraging. After starting up with 50 members just two months ago, the nonprofit Ithaca Carshare now has more than 200 members and is likely to add to its fleet of seven vehicles soon, said Jennifer Dotson, executive director.
“It’s been really quite successful,” Dotson said.
Car sharing is designed to complement public transportation and urban lifestyles by giving residents easy access to a vehicle when they need one. The overall effect is to reduce dependence on automobiles, thus lowering air emissions, fuel consumption, urban sprawl and wear and tear on roads, DeMarchi said.