Is it time to become a one car family?

It hasn’t really been that long since families have moved from 1 to 2 or more cars per household. The odd thing is that my reading shows mention of the affordability of cars as being the primary factor. Common sense says to me that more career working women may have played a factor. Today we might also be able to say that children’s busy social schedules might also play a role or at least that’s what I hear. Travel teams are almost the norm these days. The times have certainly changed. That much we can say for sure.

“As of 2013, US Census estimates suggest that there were approximately 1.8 vehicles per household. Vehicle ownership in the US is higher than any place else in the world.” http://www.worldatlas.com/articles/us-states-by-vehicles-per-capita.html

But now Uber, Lyft and soon a host of other options have entered the market. Auto manufacturers are also expected to get into the game by making car ownership a thing of the past for all of us. And why not? Entrepreneurs see an inefficient market as an opportunity for capitalism to flourish. What inefficiency? The time that your car sits un-used. The price you are paying for your car to sit in the driveway or sit in the parking lot at work is the inefficiency that they are looking to exploit. It’s where the opportunity lays. GM has launched Maven and Ford has Ford Pass. Both moving people away from car ownership and into the hop into a car and go. They will own the car. You will use it only when you need it.

Heck you don’t even need to own a car to be a Lyft driver anymore. GM will rent you one as a serious discount as serious as free. http://www.theverge.com/2016/3/15/11224200/gm-lyft-car-rental-maven-chicago-express-drive

And car ownership is out of favor with the younger set.

According to a study conducted by the University of Michigan’s Transport Research Institute, there has been a significant decrease in driver’s license holders in the age group of 20-24 in the U.S. While nearly 92% of the U.S. population in this age group had a driver’s license in 1983, this number declined to nearly 77% in 2014.https://www.forbes.com/sites/greatspeculations/2016/01/25/with-maven-is-general-motors-driving-into-the-future/#36176f925018

As it happens 1983 is when I graduated from high school and in 1983 I could not have imagined not driving. My personal freedom was tied to my ability to drive my car. Only losers didn’t drive. Things are different now; Dramatically different even for me.

I love to drive. When I’m on vacation; in a location that’s great for driving; on a road trip. Not so much around town. I really don’t think that anyone likes driving around town. Road rage is the only proof I need of that.

car

I find myself driving less and less. The spouse and I work from home. The office is at home. I don’t enjoy driving around town. Why am I maintaining a second car?

1. I love my car. I bought it for the technology cool factor and I said I would never sell it.

That’s all I can think of. I believe that it would be less expensive for me to call Lyft or Uber if I find myself carless and need to go somewhere. The future is less car ownership for all us. I think that’s clear. When this future gets here is the only question. When will they be able to remove the inefficiencies of car ownership without sacrificing the convenience of car ownership? We don’t know the answer to this futurist question.

But the question at hand for me is, should I do it now?

– Amy, president

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Harbor Computer Services is an IT firm servicing Southeastern Michigan. We work exclusively under contract with our clients to provide technology direction and either become the IT department or provide assistance to the internal IT they already have. We have won many awards for our work over the years, including the worldwide Microsoft Partner of the Year in 2010. We’re the smallest firm to have ever won this most prestigious award. Most recently we were recognized as one of the top 20 visionaries in small business IT by ChannelPro Magazine (2015). And in 2016 as the top Michigan IT firm for Manufacturing. There are a few simple things that make Harbor Computer Services the best choice for your business. •We are Professionals •We are Responsible •We are Concerned About The Success of Your Business

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