TfL fails to grasp the importance of Zipcar’s departure

Zipcar’s likely exit from London is a policy failure, which London’s transport authorities could have taken steps to avoid. Yet, since the London Assembly Transport Committee published its report earlier this year,¹ Transport for London (TfL) has demonstrated a complete lack of progress on its thinking with regard to car clubs and has instead shown a continued unwillingness to acknowledge where it could intervene.

TfL should have taken action earlier this year to set a clear policy direction for car clubs in London and used its convening power to bring boroughs, operators and CoMoUK together to resolve some of the issues facing the sector. Instead, TfL is now left playing catch up after failing to engage with the sector.

In a letter published today,² the Transport Committee is calling for the Deputy Mayor to write to them with:

• Information gathered in relation to the reasons behind Zipcar’s proposal to cease its UK operations 
• What incentives, policies, or other actions are under consideration or have been offered to Zipcar

In order to secure the future viability of car clubs in London the Committee recommends that TfL take the following actions in the short-term:

• Work to ensure that the provision of parking bays used by Zipcar’s fleet are protected for car club cars and not given over to private car parking or other modes.
• Ensure that Local Implementation Plan funding directly permits funding for car club bays and provide the Committee with evidence of this.
• Engage directly and urgently with CoMoUK, all London boroughs, car club operators and London Councils to convene these stakeholders to support car clubs in London, including active steps to support a coordinated approach to procurement.

In the longer-term, the Committee reiterates the recommendations set out in its report ‘TfL’s Stalling Car Clubs’ and requests that previous responses to these are re-considered.

Chair of the London Assembly Transport Committee, Elly Baker AM, said:

“Much to the frustration of the London Assembly Transport Committee, there is no sense of urgency from TfL on this issue. There is currently a patchwork approach to car clubs in London and they are failing to reach their full potential.

We heard from TfL that it is working to update its six commitments on car clubs, and this work will continue in the new year. Yet, if Zipcar goes ahead with its proposal, 90 per cent of London’s car club market will have disappeared by then.

“TfL must take action now to ensure that car club provision in London does not disappear entirely.”