Co-cars comes to Lemon Quay - offering half price membership to Cornwall's car club scheme

To mark its first anniversary Cornwall's hire by the hour car club scheme Co-cars will be on Lemon Quay in Truro this Saturday offering half price membership to residents and visitors.

Funded by Cornwall Council, the Department for Transport, Co-cars and Great Western Railways, Co-cars promotes more sustainable transport solutions and offers members the convenience of a car without the hassles and costs of car ownership.

The Co-cars team will be at Lemon Quay from 9.30am to 4.30pm on Saturday 9th June giving people the opportunity to take a look at a car and find out how the pay-as-you-go car club scheme works.

Those who register on the day and complete the application process within a week will receive their first year's residential membership for half price (£12.50 instead of £25) and get £5 driver's credit per person (£10 for 2 person household), to be used by 31 August 2018.

Co-cars smart low emission cars are based at convenient locations in Truro and Falmouth Town railway stations, Truro's Pydar Street car park and Waterside House in Penryn. 

Hiring from Co-cars costs from £3.75 per hour, with discounts for daily hire, plus 18p per mile and fuel, insurance, tax, maintenance and emergency cover are all included so there are no hidden costs. Members only pay for a car when they want to use one.

Co-cars is ideal for occasional drivers, short trippers and two car families who don't want or can't afford the second vehicle and want to hire one for an hour or two. 

Portfolio holder for Transport, Cornwall Councillor Geoff Brown said: "The growth of Co-cars is supporting a more joined-up transport system for Truro, Falmouth and beyond by enabling people to connect their train journey with a station based hire by the hour car. As well as benefiting the occasional car user, the eco-friendly nature of these cars will help to reduce the impact of emission levels in our towns. The membership offer to mark Co-cars first anniversary is a welcome addition to this already cost effective scheme."

Cornwall Councillor for Truro Boscawen Bert Biscoe added: "Co-cars is a good way to live in town and to make use of a vehicle when you need it, and when doing so, to make as little impact on the environment as possible. If we are to reinvigorate Truro by encouraging more people to living in the centre then initiatives like this are not only practical and responsible, they are essential."

Truro resident Peter Gildener who had an annual car mileage of less than 1,000 and is now a Co-car member said: "My partner agreed to ferry me about as and when I might need a lift so I sold my car. It was therefore an absolute boon when I discovered Co-Cars in Truro. It just involves a short walk or a bus ride to the station and there it is all pristine, the car is brilliant to drive and the service and help at the base really is second to none. Go Co-cars!"

Co-car members can pick-up and return cars to the specially-reserved parking bays, book 24/7 online or via a smartphone and use a smartcard and PIN to open the car and log their trip.

For more details about the scheme visit the team at Lemon Quay this Saturday, go online at www.co-cars.co.uk call 0345 345 2544 or email: [email protected] 6 June 2018