Zoom on sharing economies

It’s a trend that’s making headlines: a growing number of people and businesses are sharing goods and services based on when they need them. It’s the concept behind collaborative workspaces, BIXI, AirBnB, Uber, and many more. Thanks to a variety of trust based networks, Generations Y and Z are moving from a lifestyle based on ownership to one based on usership. Here are some concrete examples of this growing trend.

car sharing

Turo

Turo lets you rent your car to strangers. The vehicle is covered by Turo’s business insurance while the car is being delivered and during the rental period. When the car isn’t being used by Turo, the driver is covered by their regular insurance policy .

Communauto

Communauto has stations in a number of regions throughout Québec. The concept is simple and highly effective: Communauto gives you access to a fleet of over a thousand vehicles that can be rented for a half hour, an hour, a day, or longer at a reasonable rate. The company covers all operational and maintenance costs and even pays for the gas!

shared parking

8 %. That’s how much land is taken up by parking spaces on the Island of Montreal¹. Car sharing—in all its forms—is well established in the province and now shared parking is on the rise. Commuters driving around the block in search of parking spots compound the problem of rush hour traffic and its environmental impact. Several start-ups now sell vacant parking spots by the hour, week, or month by partnering with the owners of individual parking spaces. Brilliant!

alternative accommodations

AirBnB

AirBnB is a well-known community platform for short term property rentals. With over 1.5 million rental postings in 192 countries, it’s now an established business.

In Quebec, the government is in the process of defining the rules for using rental platforms like AirBnB. A new law will allow people to rent properties without certification on an occasional basis—when they’re on holiday or during a festival, for example— but not on an ongoing basis.

The sharing economy exists in other spheres as well, like commerce, energy, education, and public services. So many possibilities!

Have you joined the sharing economy?

¹ http://auto.lapresse.ca/actualites/201502/16/01-4844526-et-maintenant-le-stationnement-partage.php