Despite the movement back towards walkable urbanism, the reality is that most North American cities favor the automobile. Indeed, there are very few cities that you can live a comfortable car-free lifestyle. While people living in walkable neighborhoods can walk or take transit to most of their destinations, occasionally we a car for such things such as getting to meetings, carting large purchases or responding to family emergencies.

Until recently, this need meant choosing between owning a vehicle that may only be used a few hours a week, or going without and facing the costs of taxis or the inconvenience of renting a car from a centralized location for an entire day. The result is that many urbanites are reluctant car owners. Car sharing helps bridge this gap. It provides access to a car when needed, but without the obligations inherent in owning one. It provides an affordable, convenient option for trips otherwise not possible through other means of transportation

As car sharing companies like Zipcar becomes  more prevalent across North America it will have a profound effect on our urban form. Hence the term ‘Zipcar Urbanism.’ By reducing unnecessary ownership and use, Zipcar urbanism leads to less traffic congestion, fewer parking lots and higher transit ridership rates:

• Parking lots that were once used to warehouse cars for 20+ hours a day can be put to more productive uses.
• Streets once dominated by commuters can become multi-use boulevards.  In many cases, reduced car use will lead to increased transit readership and ultimately better frequency and more options.
• Reduced expenditures on owning and maintaining a car (estimated at $6-7,000 a year), mean that we have more money to offset the costs of urban amenities.

Taken together these factors, among others, show how Zipcar urbanism can play an instrumental role in enhancing the urban fabric of our cities.