It all started 10 years ago with a spark of an idea and a lot of blood, sweat, and tears.

A decade of sharing and caring.

In 2001, City CarShare was launched by a group of Bay Area transportation activists working in concert with several local nonprofits and foundations as well as the cities of San Francisco, Oakland, and Berkeley. Together we embarked on the mission to provide convenient, affordable access to carsharing so that together, we can reduce car dependency — and have a measurable impact in the way our communities live, breathe, work, and play.

From a grassroots fleet of twelve Volkswagon Beetles and a handful of fob-flashing members, we are proud to have blossomed into a network of thousands of members, hundreds of fuel-efficient cars, and dozens of successful partnerships with local transportation agencies, private business owners, and other community groups. Together we have improved the Bay Area environment significantly in the last 10 years.

We strive continually to maximize our reliability, convenience, and affordability so that carsharing becomes a preferable choice to private car ownership. We believe our nonprofit business model is the best way to foster the growth of membership in our cities and abroad, while also rewarding current members by sponsoring programs and initiatives that expand mobility and a healthier, more thriving region.

We have a unique and important role as a nonprofit. We encourage the growth of socially responsible carsharing. We lead efforts to integrate carsharing into the transportation network and incorporate carsharing in new real estate developments and neighborhoods. As a nonprofit, we never have to make a decision to earn an extra dollar for investors. In fact, we strive to keep our fees low so our service is accessible to as many people as possible. And as a local nonprofit, we put every dollar earned right back into the community and are committed to prioritizing community over profits.

Want to be a part of our mission? Join us, support us, or read our guide to starting up carsharing in your community: Short version; Long version.