Adventures In Car Sharing
A Real Estate Agent Divorces His Bmw And Uses A Service That Leaves Cars Around Town For Members To Drive. It's Not Always Easy.
Wisconsin State Journal :: FRONT :: A1
Monday, August 6, 2007
By ALEC LUHN aluhn@madison.com 608-252-6120
One Saturday afternoon, Madison real estate agent Brent Sainsbury, 29, was called away from an open house for an unexpected meeting. But he couldn't find his car.
He didn't even know exactly what it looked like, since he had never actually seen it before.
Sainsbury eventually found the Community Car he was looking for and made it to his meeting 20 minutes late. He was upset, but finding a last-minute vehicle in a strange part of town can be one of the challenges of car sharing, he said.
Community Car is a 4-year-old car-sharing service in Madison that has been growing in popularity as environmental concerns have come to the forefront.
Sainsbury joined the Madison car-sharing service three months ago, and in June he "divorced" his childhood dream car, a BMW, at a ceremony sponsored by the program. Since he joined, Sainsbury has relied solely on Community Car's fleet of 13 vehicles for his car needs.
Although he's had to restructure his life, Sainsbury said he's leading a better life.
"It's the most rewarding decision I've made in a while, right up there with buying a puppy and a house that I love," he said.
He's healthier from biking more often, more organized and less stressed over his car, Sainsbury said. He estimated he'll save about $10,000 next year now that he's selling his BMW.
"Having a car is both a luxury and a curse," he said.
Sainsbury said he's seen benefits in his business and personal life from being less dependent on a car.
"Hands down, I've gained freedom," he said.
It's hard to imagine a real estate agent not owning a car given the nature of the work, which requires frequent meetings and showings at a variety of locations, said Jenny Persha, Sainsbury's business partner and fellow broker at Keller Williams Realty. When Sainsbury first switched over to Community Car three months ago, none of his co-workers "thought it would be possible to do real estate without a car," Sainsbury said.
"They were shocked, like, 'What is Brent doing!?'" Persha said. "They didn't understand Community Car and that he would have access to a car when he needed."
Sainsbury began working mainly from a spot in the Memorial Union with his laptop and cell phone, to be close to the Downtown properties he usually sells as well as three Community Cars parked nearby. The vehicles are kept around the city, available to members through phone or online reservations.
His superiors supported the change, Sainsbury said. He has always had a degree of autonomy - eight months ago, he and Persha founded Enlightening Real Estate, a group within Keller Williams Realty that promotes energy conservation in the buildings it sells. The group provides clients with energy-efficiency evaluations or a one-year membership to Community Car when they buy a home.
Demands creativity Sainsbury had to become more creative without his own car. He usually meets clients at a showing, or carpools with them in a Community Car.
Sainsbury's use of Community Car requires more organization and planning for Persha and Sainsbury. They are switching to a system using electronic signatures to cut back on driving trips, a move they had long considered but which became a necessity.
Despite the extra planning, Sainsbury said his use of Community Car gives him a business edge with environmentally concerned clients.
"They're going to realize I'm actually living the lifestyle," he said. "For that niche community, that means a lot."
Environmental concerns motivated Sainsbury to join Community Car. He calls climate change "our generation's world war."
Even though he offers a Community Car membership to clients, Sainsbury said the program doesn't fit everyone's needs.
"I don't think we're to the point where it could work for everyone," although a lot more people will use it as the city grows, he said.
So far, the biggest downside to giving up his car is travel between cities. While the first 100 miles are free, after that, it costs 48 cents per mile, so traveling can get expensive. To get to a recent Milwaukee Brewers game, Sainsbury had to bribe a friend to drive with a ticket.
"Since I don't have a car, I'm kind of at the mercy of my ride," he said.
And since he comes from a car-loving family, with uncles who have raced against kin of Wisconsin-native NASCAR driver Matt Kenseth, he'll have a lot to explain at the annual Christmas gathering. His uncles have always been fans of BMWs, and won't understand why he gave his up, Sainsbury said.
Initial nervousness "He seems a lot happier," said Sainsbury's girlfriend, Lindsey Thiemann. "He used to hate to drive, being stuck in traffic or finding parking Downtown. He's a lot less stressed."
Although she was initially nervous about the change, it hasn't been inconvenient, she said.
The couple often bikes together, an activity both mentioned as a positive change.
And if he wants to catch a Brewers game, Sainsbury can always watch it from home - he's converted his empty garage into a personal gym and "neighborhood bar," complete with a television and chairs where his BMW used to sit.
