London Councils has expressed concern following Zipcar’s announcement that it intends to withdraw from the UK market.

Mayor Brenda Dacres OBE, Chair of London Councils’ Transport and Environment Committee, said car clubs play a vital role in the capital’s transport system, giving residents who mainly rely on public transport and active travel access to a car or van when required, while helping to cut unnecessary car use and reduce carbon emissions.

She said the planned closure of Zipcar’s UK operations would be of significant concern to London boroughs and to residents who depend on its services. She added that boroughs have worked constructively with Zipcar for more than two decades, providing thousands of parking bays and electric vehicle charging points through locally negotiated agreements.

Mayor Dacres said London Councils is working closely with boroughs, City Hall and Transport for London to assess the immediate impact of Zipcar’s withdrawal and to explore options to address the gap in car club provision that would result. Photo by Mariordo Mario Roberto Duran Ortiz, Wikimedia commons.