CITY of Edinburgh Council has officially launched a City Car Club in partnership with Budget Rent A Car to encourage residents to give up their private cars in favour of car pooling. The council claims that each car club vehicle has the potential to replace up to six other vehicles.

The unique scheme has received investment of £50,000 from Edinburgh Council, £150,000 from the Department of the Environment and the Regions, and £30,000 from the Scottish Office, and is acting as a pilot for other UK cities. who require pool cars for occasional users.'

The City Car Club offers its members any car at any time for any duration. Members pay an annual subscription of £99 (£79 for the second person in a household). They then receive a personalised electronic key fob (EKF) which works in any one of the club's wide range of vehicles, from superminis to lower and upper medium saloons and estates, coupes and luxury cars, and even a minibus. Members go to one of four street parking stations to collect their vehicle, and must return it to one of these stations at the end of the rental.