NORTHERN Ireland's first pay-as-you-go car club has been launched in Belfast with a long term aim of slashing car ownership and reducing carbon emissions and congestion.
The national car club WhizzGo has been brought to the city by the developers, the Carvill group, and vehicles will be sited at six locations across the city.
In conjunction with Translink, Central Station will be one of the locations, as well as the Queen's University area, and the main shopping and business areas.
From just £4.95 an hour members - who pay an annual subscription of £49.50 -will be able to pick up one of a fleet of low-emission Citroens for use as needed.
Michael Davis, Northern Ireland area manager for WhizzGo, said: "In today's world many people consider the 3 Cs to be very important when weighing up their transport options - cost, carbon and congestion - all of which can be cut by swapping car ownership for car club membership.
"We are delighted to launch in Belfast and hope that we can bring a flexible car sharing programme to a city which needs it."
Belfast now has one of the highest rates of 'car dependency' per capita in the UK - not only do people own more cars, they also drive them more regularly, leading to higher levels of congestion, carbon emission and a five-fold increase in public parking spaces since 1980, according to WhizzGo.
A continuation of the trend would seriously derail attempts to increase the use of public transport and healthy alternatives such as walking and cycling, they say.
Mr Davis said initially there would be six cars based in special bays within easy access of neighbourhoods and workplaces.
Cars are booked online and are taxed, insured and maintained under the membership cost.
