Is your thumb getting tired as you wave it around on the side of the highway? Sick of not having your own wheels? Do you just so happen to live in San Francisco? Well, if you answered “yes” to all of the above questions, have we got the program for you!
RelayRides is the California-based (figures) car-sharing program that unites vehicle owners with eager people who want to drive their cars! In other words, instead of paying for an over-priced cab ride or deal with the hassle of catching a city bus, a person is able to borrow a car from someone in their community for only $6 an hour.
Sounds too good to be true? We thought so too! But, Shelby Clark, a Harvard Business School graduate, management consultant, former Kiva.org executive and founding CEO of RelayRides can reassure people that the program makes perfect sense!
Gas and a $1 million insurance policy covering theft and accidents is provided for drivers and the owner’s of the vehicles in the program. Also, online registration initiates driving record approval of applicants. After signing up, approved applicants will receive membership information and access to reserve a nearby car for a few hours or even days.
What’s even cooler is that awkward car key swaps between strangers are now obsolete. When the member arrives to the location of their “rented” car, he or she simply waves a card to the sensor on the driver’s side of the windshield and the door automatically is unlocked paving the way to most coveted item of all: the car keys.
The members aren't the only one reeling in the benefits of RelayRides. The owners of the rented cars have the potential to earn up to $8,000 annually! Plus, if the model works, fewer cars will be on the road which translates to less traffic and cleaner air. You see? We all win!
Since RelayRides is still in its pilot stages, we cannot be sure whether it will take off or stall out. Regardless of its destiny, the inspiration behind the idea is sure to accelerate us to a greener, more sustainable future! Have YOU helped save the world today?
For more information, visit: takepart.com, relayrides.com
Want to become a Social Firestarter? “Like” us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter @ BrushfireMG
