New urban form brought about by car sharing (Okurayama, Yokohama) - September 2006

New urban form brought about by car sharing (Okurayama, Yokohama) - September 2006

In 2006, the values of urban life were undergoing a major shift from "ownership" to "use. The car-sharing business that began in the Okurayama district of Yokohama City epitomizes the spirit of the times: a car is shared by about five people, available in 15-minute increments, with IC cards to unlock the doors, and the convenience of the service starting at 1,980 yen per month. There was no need to pay for parking or insurance, a major advantage for urban dwellers. In the background, the Kyoto Protocol came into effect and the government strengthened its policy to reduce CO₂ emissions, and car sharing was seen as part of an "environmentally conscious lifestyle" rather than just a means of transportation. In Europe, Mobility in Switzerland is known as a successful example, and in Japan, the concept of "use without owning" was spreading throughout society, as evidenced by the shared use of welfare vehicles in Nishinomiya City, Hyogo Prefecture. This project in Yokohama would
later become a pioneering example of the sharing economy.