BRAMPTON— A non-profit agency whose affordable car sharing initiative has prompted more than 1,400 Ontario residents to give-up their dependency on cars says the program will resonate with Bramptonians who pay exorbitant money for the upkeep of their vehicles.

Community CarShare, a Kitchener, Ont.-based agency launched its car sharing program in Brampton, Monday, Nov. 3 with a fleet of three 2014 Toyota Matrix.

The cars will be housed at the Chegoggin Co-operative Homes, on 11 Church St. W. next to the Brampton GO Station, and will be available to members on a self-serve and pay-by-use-basis.

Here’s how it works: Membership for a simple plan is $5 per month and includes a smart card. Reservations can be made by phone or online, and on the appointed day and hour people can show up at the vehicle station (Chegoggin Co-Operative Homes), unlock the car with their smart card, use it and return it back to the station when their reservation ends. Payment can be made either with credit card or cash or members can opt to get their monthly statement mailed to them. Depending on the type of plan, fees are typically $6 per hour and include insurance and gas as well.

“Until today, Brampton was one of Canada’s largest cities without a car share program and we are here to fix that,” said Jason Hammond, president, Community CarShare adding the program helps fill the existing gaps in transportation for occasional car users. “This makes driving more sustainable and allows you to drive when necessary and not necessarily drive. Everyone has been telling us how expensive car insurance is in Brampton. We take that high cost and spread it among our members. Community CarShare is about splitting the fixed cost with your fellow members.”

The program was launched 16 years ago in Kitchener, Ont. and was the first of its kind in Ontario. Since then, eight cities in the province have joined the program.

Brampton’s Kevin Montgomery signed-up for the program few weeks ago and said he opted for the simple plan costing $5 per month, but would be willing to re-evaluate that at a later date depending on his usage.

Montgomery commutes to Toronto daily on GO Transit and takes his bike along for use in the city. He said he’s familiar with the concept of car sharing, as he’s also a member of a similar program offered by another company in a different city.

His family of five has not owned a car for about three years and opts to ride their bikes or use transit to get around.

“Brampton is experiencing an interesting state of transition where people are realizing the sprawl method is not sustainable long-term,” he said. “At the same time, we are in the suburbs where people have formed a habit of using cars to get everywhere. In my opinion, the cost of car ownership, insurance, gas etc. is symptomatic of lack of a transportation market and very much monopolized around cars. What I like about CarShare is that it opens up the question: do you need to own a car or need access to a car at certain times?”