We successfully completed a Feasibility Study for a Car Club for Lewes in May 2008. If you would like to be emailed a copy of the study please contact us.

The whole study involved interviewing members of Lewes District Council, East Sussex County Council, local businesses, developers and residents about whether a car club would suit their needs. The study not only raised awareness of car clubs among these sectors but also identified a definite need for an integrated car club serving all those sectors' needs. The study also identified best practice in local authorities and is in contact with a new organisation called Common Wheels which supports commercial community-run car clubs (as opposed to national car clubs)

A survey of residents, carried out online and at the April Farmers Market, was completed by 120 residents - a good level of response.

Some interesting results are as follows:

  • 47% of respondents use their cars daily; 43% use them twice weekly
  • 60% of respondents walk to work; 50% use the car and 43% use the train (so most people use a mix of transport)
  • 93% would prefer to use a local car club if services were comparable
  • 58% would definitely and 28% would probably like to join a Lewes car club
  • Most respondents prefered a small runabout or estate car, with 13% wanting a van

There were good ideas about where to place the car club bays and some excellent feedback comments, many in support of a scheme. For the full survey see

'Attach:LewesResidentsSurvey.doc'

for comments see below

A small group of us is now considering how to take this project further to create a community-run car club. We could really do with a hand! Please get in touch if you'd like to get involved.

hello@transitiontownlewes.org.uk

  • I would like to be able to access different types of vehicle on different occasions.
  • One of the problems for Lewes is people coming in from the outlying areas. A more regular train and/or bus service would help, but a car club could also contribute.
  • Instead of having to phone or book a car in advance, would it be feasible, in the future and as this scheme progresses - to access a car when one needed it -*I saw an article quite some time ago- about a town in France - locals bought a membership, received a plastic card which was inserted in the car they chose - the cars were situated in reasonaly accessible areas in the town. On top of the cost of membership, there is a charge per mile. The cars are maintained, etc.. by competent staff. When someone was not able to walk to a car they could phone and have one delivered at extra cost. Such a scheme could remove a substantial amount of cars off our streets, also employ local people, mechanics
  • please huury, i need to belng to a car club!
  • I was a car owner until July last year. When my car needed repairs I gave it up. I find I can manage well without it. I occasionally hire a car. I did think of joining the Lewes car club, but they only have one car and it is some way away from my house.
  • I do not own a car, but currently this can limit my opportunity to work (I often need to carry lots of kit and reach places not easily accessible by public transport) or attend events that run later than public transport allows. I cycle or use public transport when I can, but this often leaves me feeling like a second class citizen.
  • Would use car club for occasional holiday use. ALso estate van for occasional business use. Electric moped would be good too.
  • I would love to be part of a car club for younger people as it would mean we could drive without owning a car
  • I think that a car club would be a positive move.
  • Options offered for questions about patterns of car use were difficult to choose for those of us who don't live to a 'normal' working rhythm, school timetable etc or have regular work. Just seemed worth mentioning because Lewes is full of freelance people of one kind or another for whom the same might apply...
  • I would like a guarantee that my personal details will not be given to anyone else. thank you
  • We live outside Lewes but would still be interested in a car club.
  • Due to health reasons, I prefer an automatic car. I would like to avoid travelling far to access bays.
  • Difficult to complete these questions if you don't have a car but would like to join a car club. I couldn't describe how I use a car now - but could have said what I'd use a car club car for. I tried to do this. Have been in a club with neighbour - biggest issue was fair booking system - first come first served. And being able to find out easily if car is available on spur of the moment. ON line system would be great. Other issue - who would be responsible for maintenance - one of the things I hated about having a car was the maintenance - but I would want to be reassured that the car was being taken care of by someone in the know - so it was safe to drive!
  • I don't plan to change my car, but may have to; it may die/not pass the MOT. *I HAVE to have a car for use for work, to keep my job, but most things in town can be done by walking, however the monthly grocery haul from Tesco can be achieved by a Taxi which is cheaper than having it delivered. The sort of car that is suitable for occasional journeys for work needs to be good for long distances/motorway driving, but does not need to be large like an estate. A small hatchback with good mileage would do the job. I think if Transition Town Lewes could just get this established it would do more for the quality of life in Lewes, and relive the parking problems more constructively than all the parking tickets NCP could ever write. The few times a large car is used for for packing up and going on holidays, does not make it worth having one parked outside all year. People can just get used to booking a car, like booking a plane or train ticket.
  • Good Luck. When the results are in can you distribute the link to the results page to participants?
  • we are in the process of moving to Lewes - hence the Wycherly address
  • If might also work with small businesses as they are more likely to use it during the day and residents at evenings and weekends. A slightly larger vehicle is more versitle but more costly?
  • This survey should really have provided option to give different members of household's driving habits -- I hardly drive at all & walk / use public transport all the time. My petrol-head partner on the other hand uses a vehicle daily. Our camper van is not at all green unfortunately (but does mean we go camping a lot, so don't jet off for foreign holidays). Access to an efficient runabout would be great, would save on my partner using the camper for short journeys.
  • I do not drive and am strongly against car culture. However my partner owns a car and we use it occasionally to go on trips that are difficult to do by public transport, or to ferry people/heavy things locally. The car is old and we were going to get rid of it when its MOT runs out, and go 'car-free'. However he has been shortlisted for a job in Tonbridge and feels that if he got the job he might find it too onerous to commute by public transport from Lewes. At present he commutes to London by train for work, and I commute to Falmer by train, which works fine. We both want to be able to give up the car as far as possible, and would appreciate a car club and electric bike service very much
  • Don't currently live in Lewes but hope to move there in the future.
  • I'd rather see buses being subsidised more by local and county government and local commerce than encourage people to use cars. Moreover, isn't it about time that the maoney that is raised through parking charges and fines is ringfenced for local transport improvements. Also parts of Lewes should be closed off to traffic on Saturdays. School Hill namely.
  • In the film: The Power of Community: How Cuba survived the Oil Crisis, people working for and councillors were obliged to give people a lift. Therefore, I would like Lewes District Council to facilitate a quantum increase in persuading people to offer lifts to people and to join Time Banks www.timebanks.co.uk which the council should help set up which would facilitate the sharing of car journeys, both to Lewes, out of Lewes and around Lewes. Please contact Time Banks UK in Gloucester about their proposal to establish Time Banks by offering lifts and recording the time voluntered.
  • A decent car club will need a critical mass of members. If and when Lewes can manage this, we would be very interested in joining a car club. Please keep us informed of progress. We understood that the developers of The Printworks claimed that a car club was hoped for so - if they ever finish them - there will be a useful number of car club users arriving in Lewes.
  • I did not answer the question on national vs local car clubs as I don't know anything about how they operate.
  • I do not live in Lewes at the moment but am hoping to move there in a year or two, one the main reasons is that I would like to give up my car and join a car club instead and was hoping you would be doing something like this. Good luck!
  • I think that this is a brilliant idea !! and wish you luck with the project. Many thanks
  • its a good idea but i have a company car so there is less inducement at present. i would be interested if I didn't have the current car. We also have a dog and might make a mess of a shared car with muddy paws
  • This is well overdue in Lewes. Some London boroughs have dozens of cars. Lets get on with it!!
  • This is a great idea. I wrote to Lewes District Council about this over 6 months ago and got no response. Please support this. A car club car is estimated to take at least 6 other cars off the road. It's a great way to help people give up their cars.

Get involved: contact hello [at] TransitionTownLewes.org.uk