CarSharing Association to Host "Shared Mobility and Transit" Conference in Toronto

TORONTO, Aug. 22, 2013 /CNW/ - What began as an informal meeting in Toronto 10 years ago has turned into an annual conference with transit experts from around the world meeting to discuss the future of shared mobility and transit.

On September 16 and 17, the CarSharing Association (CSA) will be hosting their fifth annual conference at the Evergreen Brickworks in Toronto.

"The focus of this year's conference is on how shared mobility works with transit," said Kevin McLaughlin, President of Toronto carsharing company and conference host, AutoShare. The CarSharing Conference will be an opportunity for carshare operators to meet transportation planners to explore the future of shared vehicles in mobility management.

"Carsharing has become really mainstream in the last two years," said McLaughlin. "There's an explosion in new mobility ideas, including technology, but we're really focused on ethics, accountability and environmental impact. This conference is opportunity to discuss those ideas."

Speakers will include keynote Dr. Ryan Chin, an MIT scientist, who will highlight his work on innovative vehicle technologies including autonomous self-driving cars; Michel Labrecque, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Société de transport de Montréal, who was involved in the creation of the longest cycling route in the Americas; and Susan Shaheen, the world's foremost researcher on shared mobility, who will discuss the benefits of carshare to cities—presenting research that goes beyond the corporate marketing slogans.

"We know that technology, city planning and public perception of shared vehicle mobility are all changing quickly. Our speakers are forward-thinking, progressive leaders that have a vision of the future of mobility to share," says Alan Woodland, Executive Director of the CarSharing Association.

Potential story ideas include:

• Carsharing moves from the margins to mainstream: As major vehicle manufacturers and car rental companies snap up carshare operators (including the acquisition of Zipcar by Avis earlier this year), carsharing has become the new form of car ownership. Carshares operate in over 27 countries and on five continents—in North America alone, more than one million people belong to a carsharing organization.
  
  
• City councils work with carshare operators to improve accessibility: In 2012, in partnership with the City of Mississauga, AutoShare launched in Mississauga. And earlier this month, the City of Toronto approved a new set of bylaws allowing for designated on-street parking spots for carshare companies in Toronto. As carsharing grows, partnership with city councils is key to ensuring that the populations that need it most—including lower-income groups—have access.
  
  
• Toronto tech company leads the way to innovative transit solutions: A Toronto success story, Metavera developed what has become the prototype technology for carsharing companies across the globe. Used by carshare operators everywhere from Istanbul to Toronto (including AutoShare and Car2Go), they have become leaders in developing technology that partners shared mobility and transit.

About the CarSharing Association: Founded in 2010, the CarSharing Association works to maximize the environmental and social impact of the carsharing industry. The 20 member organizations, located worldwide, are committed to providing sustainable, transit-oriented urban mobility for the benefit of the communities that they serve. For more information, visit carsharing.org.

About the CarSharing Association Conference: The fifth annual CarSharing Association Conference is an event for carshare operators, city planners and transit officials to discuss the future of shared mobility and its partnership with transit. With a focus on innovation, the conference will present new ideas and research from industry experts and civic leaders from around the world. For more information visit conference.carsharing.org. #carsharing13

SOURCE: CARSHARING ASSOCIATION

For media inquires, please contact: 
Alan Woodland, The CarSharing Association
[email protected], [phone]

Kevin McLaughlin, AutoShare
[email protected], [phone]