(Washington, DC) The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) today announced the designation of 50 new on-street parking spaces for carsharing vehicles throughout the city, including Petworth, Adams Morgan, Mount Pleasant and Historic Anacostia.
 
The spaces are marked with orange poles, special signage and pavement markings outlining the parking space. These 50 are in addition to 150 spaces already in use, mostly on private property, with a small number on property controlled by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. The 50 DDOT spaces were picked in consultation with local Advisory Neighborhood Commissions. Zipcar and Flexcar are the two companies working with DDOT on this endeavor.
 
"Carsharing meets many of DDOT's goals - it reduces traffic congestion, air pollution and demand for parking while increasing demand for alternative forms of transportation," said Dan Tangherlini, Director of the Department of Transportation.
 
Carsharing allows members to use a car while only paying for the time and mileage that they actually use. The experience of Arlington and other localities, as well as research studies, show that people who join carsharing services often sell their car or avoid buying a second one, using transit as well as walking and biking instead. The result is good for the environment, traffic and parking congestion.
 
Carsharing can be especially advantageous for low-income persons because their transportation needs are not fully met by transit, taxis or traditional rental cars. The contract with Zipcar and Flexcar requires that cars be available in all wards of the city.
 
For more information please visit ddot.dc.gov/carsharing.