Want to get rid of that car but still (occasionally) need access to a vehicle?

January saw the release of more 2011 Census data from the Office of National Statistics (ONS). Several cycling blogs and newspapers have commented on the decline of car ownership in London and corresponding increases in the proportion of journeys to work being made by bicycle. 

For example, the Cyclists in the City blog highlights the increase in the number of "car-free" households between 2001 and 2011.  "In 2001 in Southwark, 51% of households had no car or van. By 2011, that number was up to 58%. In Hackney, the story is even more dramatic - 65% of households are now car-free, up from 56% in 2001. [See the KS404EW Car or van availability].

The Method of travel to work (QS701EW dataset) highlights, that in London, the proportion of people cycling to work has grown to 4.3%.  But just as the number of car-free households varies across London Boroughs, the so do the cycle to work figures. For example, the Cyclists in the City blog estimates that in Hackney, more people who travel to work use a bike (15.4%) than use a car. 

So what do the Census figures tell is about household car ownership in Greater Manchester?  


The table on the left shows the percentage of households in the 10 GM local authorities that reported that they had "no availability to a car or van".

In contrast to London, the number of "car-free" households across Greater Manchester has declined in the period between 2001 and 2011. Or put another way, 2.2% more GM households reported that they owned (or had access to) one (or more) cars in 2011 compared to 2001. 


This trend was reported in all ten local authority areas.  Some commentators and politicians will welcome this trend as representing economic progress and a rebalancing of the north and south economic divide. But such growth in car ownership will increase the challenges facing Greater Manchester councils as they attempt to meet air pollution, congestion, CO2 emissions and obesity targets.

The 2011 census Travel to Work unadjusted data shows the following percentage figures for each GM local authority: 

Bolton (0.6%), Bury (0.9%), Manchester (2.3%), Oldham (0.6%), Rochdale (0.6%), Salford (1.5%), Stockport (1.4%), Tameside (0.9%), Trafford (2.1%), Wigan (1.0%). 

Future blogs will examine the cycling figures in more detail.  Meanwhile, the Guardian have created a great datablog with the Census travel to work data which allows people to easily look at the cycling data for where they live (or anywhere else for that matter).


But back to the challenge of reducing the number of cars in Manchester. One barrier many people raise to the idea of going "car-free" is what to do on those ocassions when they need a car.  Well a really practical solution is to join a Car Club.

Those lovely people at Manchester Friends of the Earth have teamed up with City car Club and all MFoE members can get a years City Car club membership for just £1 - and save £59.


Why own a car in Manchester when you can hire a locally parked City Car by the hour? City Car Club gives you all the benefits of owning a car without any of the hassles or expenses. City Cars are located in designated parking bays across the city and are available to hire for as little as 30 minutes, an hour, a day, or as long as you need.  As a member you can book the cars online or by phone any time of the day or night, and access them with your very own smart-enabled Manchester’s low emission car sharing scheme.

• All the convenience of car ownership without the carbon, costs and hassle.

• First year membership for £1 (normally £60) to Manchester FoE members for the remainder of 2013.   [Manchester FoE members please contact office@manchesterfoe.org.uk for the offer code].

• Bookings can be made minutes or up to a year in advance for as little as 30 minutes to a few hours or several days.  Bookings can be cancelled up to 5 hours in advance at no charge.

• Over 40 vehicles already available across Manchester City Centre, Salford Quays, Hulme, Chorlton, Didsbury, and Wythenshawe.  Pay by the hour vans also available in the City Centre.

• Service available to residents and businesses membership card. Book, jump in, drive away – it’s as simple as that!

Manchester Friends of the Earth membership costs £6 (unwaged), £12 (low waged) and £24 (waged) per year.  You can join the City Car club online or by phone 0845 330 1234.

and remember, less cars on the roads (or pavements!) is good for everyone.