INFUZE is inviting families, friends and neighbours across Leeds to take part in a three-week experiment exploring different ways to access cars without needing to own them.
Our “Car When We Need It” experiment aims to explore whether having easy access to a car, only when it is needed, could work for and benefit local communities across the city.
Participants will be able to choose between two options, which they will try out for three consecutive weeks in November this year. We’re aiming to recruit between 30 and 50 households.
One option will be for a group of two or more households to get together, with one of the households providing their car for loan on an app platform. That car would then be available to others in the same group.
A second option will see households signing up for access to a specific hire car available for use between one to three days a week, with the days being agreed in advance.
In both cases participants will be asked to take a break from using their own car during the course of the experiment and will receive thank you payments.
“If you’ve ever wondered what a world where people did not need to own their own cars might look like, we would love you to get involved.
“People have told us they are really worried about the number of cars on the streets around them, but that they also value the flexibility of the car for some journeys. We want people to try out some options which mean they can have the convenience of a car without the hassle of ownership.
INFUZE Director, Greg Marsden
“If these ideas work then we really could give space back to communities for play or green space. We are looking for people who are willing to have a go and tell us how it goes and what else might make it better.”
INFUZE researchers will use data collected from the experiment to understood what the householders did and how they would want to improve the services they tried, for instance by changing how it was organised, or by adding extra options such as e-bikes or taxi services.