Shared mobility scheme launched

Friday 07 June 2024

A shared mobility hub has been set up in one of the most densely residential parts of the island.

An Evie car and van are now parked at Cour du Parc in La Charroterie.

They're available for use by anyone who signs up as a member of Evie's car club.

The scheme has already been viewed as a success following the use of shared access vans, stored at Guernsey Post's headquarters in La Vrangue. 

Guernsey Post is supporting the expansion of the scheme - which is now open for use in town. 

A shared mobility hub, such as this, is an idea that Environment and Infrastructure President, Deputy Lindsay de Sausmarez is a big fan of. 

"This is a good example of what’s known as shared mobility, where people have access to (in this case) a car or van when they need one without the expense or hassle of owning, running, insuring, servicing, maintaining, and finding parking for a private vehicle," she said.

"Data from UK car clubs show that their users report financial savings as one of the main benefits. 

"It’s great to see this kind of initiative in Guernsey, and the more the merrier, because the more shared vehicles that are available, the more convenient they can be as an option for more people. 

"Those that live in Town or other built up areas without off-street parking may find this kind of shared mobility scheme particularly helpful, as it takes away the on-street or public parking hassle – and the fact that they are EVs is particularly welcome, as they help reduce air pollution and carbon emissions compared with petrol or diesel vehicles."

Pictured: Deputy Lindsay de Sausmarez. 

30% of Guernsey's entire population was living in St Peter Port according to data for March 2022, collated by the States through various resources.

With more than 19,000 people living in the parish then - and the island's population as a whole growing in the two years since - that gave a population density for St Peter Port of just over 3,000 people per km² at the time.

Cour du Parc is near Trinity Square and what is known as the Old Quarter of St Peter Port, where ribbon development was seen throughout the 19th century leading to flats and houses being built up and out of the main town and harbour area. 

Additional flats and houses are being built in St Peter Port too - with a block of flats being built in La Charroterie, almost opposite Cour du Parc and the Charroterie Mills flats which together already house hundreds of people. 

Parking is at a premium in the area with few disc zones and limited private parking available.

The new flats being built on the former CI Tyres site have been designed to encourage active travel or shared mobility - such as the scheme already running at Cour du Parc.