The final member profile in our series – we’re sad to see it end! Thanks to Christopher Paetkau and Trevor Gill who made this project so exceptional – we’ve been so happy with them. Their dedication, hard creative work and willingness to be so open to direction made them an absolute pleasure to work with. Thanks also to our members who donated their time and energy (not all of you made the final cut!) for such lovely interviews.

DAVE on SHARING : Peg City Car Co-op from Peg City Car Co-op on Vimeo.

Dave doesn’t need pay to own a car for 30 days of the month just to pick up a few gallons of paint.

It’s a cost benefit analysis. The social cost of personal ownership – the time and energy invested in the production, purchase and maintenance of a vehicle – forces one to re-consider how useful it is for an individual to own one.

Dave’s answer is to share. He only pays for a car when he needs to use it and effectively spreads the costs of owning a vehicle over the wider membership in the co-operative. It’s a different kind of ownership – instead of “my” car, it’s “our” car.

For more information about Co-ops, including how 2012 has been declared by the United Nations as the International Year of the Co-op, visit the Share Alike section on our About page.

Thanks to Assiniboine Credit Union for making this possible!

The third of our Member Profiles features Shauna talking about the true costs of vehicle ownership.

SHAUNA on COST: Peg City Car Co-op from Peg City Car Co-op on Vimeo.

Shauna’s home is a mess – and it’s all because of the carshare.

She and her family were able to save for a down payment on a new house because they don’t own a car. They moved in a few months ago and are still in the process of unpacking.

With carsharing, the cost of using a vehicle is kept stable. Maintenance, insurance, parking and gas are all covered in the usage rates of $3 per booking, $3 per hour and $0.40* per kilometre.

For more information on the true costs of owning a vehicle, please see our Save Money section in the About Carsharing page.

Thanks to Assiniboine Credit Union for making this possible.

This is the first in our series of introductory videos on carsharing in Winnipeg. Here, real member Amanda talks about the Utility of being part of the co-op.

AMANDA on UTILITY : Peg City Car Co-op from Peg City Car Co-op on Vimeo.

Amanda does not want to own a car. She lives close to her amenities and usually rides her bike or walks to where she needs to go.

A car, however, is admittedly useful when your hobbies include large-canvas painting and baking copious volumes of delicious goodies. Attaining materials for her extra-curricular activities, and the delivery of those wonderfully refined goods are some of the examples of Amanda’s occasional use of a vehicle.

Membership in a carshare co-op allows her access to a car for all of its convenience, without the hassle of ownership. “Sorted,” as she says.

Thanks to Assiniboine Credit Union for making this possible.