An indecent proposal

Routines and habits change. And so will the way we move as well. Moving differently is an inherent act today, tomorrow, and when we go back to normal.

It’s been a couple of years since together with some friends we embarked the adventure of finding an effective formula– although not magical– to use cars differently. We wanted vehicles to become an efficient asset, as called in some parts of LATAM. Through this path we’ve taken, we’ve collected anecdotes about failures and victories that leave us with some teachings and stories to share. And today, it has brought upon us profound reflections on our behavior as human beings and as society as a whole.

 To stop or to move differently?

Moving efficiently seems to be an illusion not only in these difficult times we’re currently living, but since the beginning of times. From Neanderthals through the feats of grand businessman as Henry Ford and Elon Musk, men and society have always wanted to find the best way to move around. We’ve always wanted to go the extra mile. So why stop now?

Governments, institutions, foundations and social movements– today more than ever– seem to be appealing to give mankind the deserved space to move freely through the streets of the cities-– and when I say free, I mean free of cars-–, as if moving around in a vehicle was the immediate cause of this pandemic expansion, or as if it meant the end of the world.

There is no doubt that this virus changes many things in the short, medium and long term, but the solution is nowhere near stopping. We must continue to move. We must find the way to move in different ways. It’s been almost three months since COVID-19 was declared a pandemic disease and in this short time, our habits have already changed. Just check out the latest Google report on mobility for the region. It’s not just about going out to buy food or medicine instead of going to the mall or to a concert. It seems that the changes are just beginning.

Smart distancing?

In countries such as China, the US, Germany and Italy, mass mobility and public transportation systems-– trains and buses– seem to be the Achilles' heel in returning to "normal" life after the pandemic ends. The norm now dictates that you have to keep a meter-distance between each person to avoid contagion. But on a bus, this might be quite an impossible mission.

In metropolitan cities such as Medellín and Bogotá in Colombia, public transport has been ordered to operate at 35% capacity. A measure that will be for sure difficult to control and monitor. Will a passenger think to himself “is the bus is already at 35% capacity, so it’s best not to get on?” How to ensure that people who do get on board are really keeping the one-meter-separation rule? While operating the public system below the 100% capacity will surely mitigate the virus, controlling the measure will be an almost inefficient task.

In other cities, detailed schemes have been arranged to organize schedules so that people from certain economic sectors move around at different times and avoid crowds. Gender restrictions will also help, but there is no doubt that it is a palliative and not the real cure. Not because women go outside while men stay at home will significantly mean fewer cars on the streets, and vice versa. Truth be told: local and zonal governments will be held responsible for making sure all measures are obeyed but it’s on the hands of the citizens that they do become effective. What’s really at stake here is no other than our very own lives.

Sharing?

And so, here’s my proposal: it’s maybe an indecent one. And perhaps the simplest one I can think of to help us improve our lives and those of our closest acquaintances. My proposal is to share. Yes, you read it right, to share. Sharing our vehicle, the one we only use if two hours a day, or less. Sharing the car we only use on the weekends to grocery shop, visit the family or hang out with friends.

Now’s the time to test business models such as large-scale shared vehicle models. Why not have the same formula that has worked for bicycle or scooters in the past, and adapt it to make the car version out of it?  It’s time to test ourselves. If we share, we change. Why buy a vehicle when you can share it? Let me keep on dreaming before continuing…

How about going to the supermarket, or to the bank, or to the pharmacy on a route almost like a school route, but with our neighbors? What if we could use a car that is not ours and make use of it as if it was? Pay exclusively for its effective use and taking them from areas near our homes or workplaces? What if we could pay only for the hours we need them, and no more? I believe that we can change if we share.  Sharing is the way to mobilize better.

And this utopia of mine, is in fact a near reality.

Let's explore solutions. Let’s innovate and be disruptive with our ideas. In Russia, companies like Yandex have implemented zonal routes. In New York, companies like Maven have created carpooling systems. In Berlin,  WeShare allows you to take a car at any moment or time you need. In Japan, Kinto allows you to choose the car model of your preference based on the experience you want to live. In France, ShareNow allows you to choose several brands of vehicles, not just one.

There’s the catch. Simple formulas like giving a neighbor, a stranger or a friend a ride can change our lives. They can change the environment. The market for carsharing, renting, poolsharing and other similar services will increase abruptly after this pandemic.  Supply and demand appear to be broad and this will have a great impact as well when we think of the continuous use and the rise of electric vehicles in the market.

It’s not about looking for mathematical formulas or delving deeply into theory, it’s about going back to basics. Now’s the time to ride a car consciously. It’s also the time to ride some kilometers on a bicycle or on scooters. It’s the time to start walking again. We have a commitment to ourselves, to our planet and above all, a compromise to emerge stronger from these difficult times.

Sharing has never been so important.