Media Release: Modo and Coast Car Co-op collaborate to bring shared vehicles to Langdale
Vancouver, BC (August 1, 2018) – Two BC carshare co-operatives have come together to improve member convenience, at the Langdale ferry terminal. With a Modo and a Coast Car Co-op vehicle at the terminal, members of both co-ops will be better served during the busy summer travel months.
Effective today, members will be able to book a Modo Hyundai Tucson or a Coast Car Co-op Toyota Corolla at the Langdale ferry terminal, which serves both mainlanders and those on the Sunshine Coast, looking for a more affordable and sustainable alternative to private vehicle ownership.
Modo’s vehicle will be permanently located at the terminal, while the Coast Car Co-op vehicle will return to its home location at the Sunshine Coast Credit Union’s Sechelt branch at the end of the summer. The collaboration of Modo and Coast Car Co-op will also enable residents, tourists and businesses the opportunity to save on travel costs, by walking on as foot passengers, and grabbing a carshare vehicle on the other side.
The collaboration between Modo and Coast Car Co-op is nothing new, as the carshare operators have always offered their respective members roaming access, for ease and convenience when traveling across regions. Coast Car Co-op members have been enjoying access to a two-way carshare vehicle at the Horseshoe Bay ferry terminal since 2014 through the roaming agreement with Modo.
According to Selena McLachlan, Director of Marketing & Communications at Modo, co-operatives are natural partners. “If two corporate businesses were to serve the same market, it would likely be seen as competition,” says McLachlan. “But it’s quite different in the co-operative sector, where the focus is always on the needs of our members and community. In this case, more choice simply means improved member service.”
With Modo’s new Langdale vehicle, the member-owned co-op now has vehicles conveniently located at all major ferry crossings, including Horseshoe Bay, Swartz Bay, Departure Bay and Tsawwassen; serving over 20,000 members, with more than 600 vehicles across the Lower Mainland, Vancouver Island and the Okanagan.
From Coast Car Co-op’s inception in 2014, the organization and its 100 plus members have had a close relationship with Modo. Members already use Modo’s booking software and fobs to access the vehicles, so partnering to bring carsharing to the Langdale ferry terminal just made sense, according to Matt McLean, Executive Director on the Sunshine Coast. “Modo has been a great supporter of ours since day one,” says McLean. “Welcoming them to Langdale is a nice continuation of our partnership. It will also enable easier connections to Gibsons for the residents on Keats and Gambier Islands, and bring in more tourists from the Lower Mainland who don’t want to wait in long ferry lineups."
The addition of carsharing at the Langdale ferry terminal will be a welcome addition according to Paul Kamon of Sunshine Coast Tourism, "Transportation on the Sunshine Coast can be challenging without a personal vehicle. The addition of Modo and Coast Co-op cars at the Langdale Terminal is a welcome
www.modo.coop addition that will provide visitors with some more convenient and useful travel options to enhance their stay."
Co-ops worldwide share 7 Universal Guiding Principles. The collaboration between Modo and Coast Car Co-op is a perfect example of Principles #6 – Cooperation Among Co-operatives, and #7 – Concern for Community. Carsharing is a great complement to other active modes of travel like walking, cycling and public transit, and it’s the hope of both carshare co-ops to see more people adopt a lighter carbon footprint. To make roaming even easier, Coast Car Co-op will be waiving its $15 registration fee, until August 31, for Modo members who wish to use their vehicles.
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About Modo Modo started in 1997 as the first carshare co-operative in the region. To this day, it remains member- owned, driven by people not profit. Modo provides its two-way, round-trip service, to more than 20,000 members and 800 businesses across the Lower Mainland, Vancouver Island and the Okanagan. Members get access to over 600 cars, trucks, SUVs and vans, with rates starting at just $5 per hour, including gas and insurance. www.modo.coop
About Coast Car Co-op Coast Car Co-op is the Sunshine Coast’s own carshare. With 5 vehicles shared by over 100 members, Coast Car Co-op has been providing affordable two-way carsharing to the Sunshine Coast since 2014. Coast Car Co-op members enjoy hourly access to a truck, minivan, hybrid and small cars parked in neighbourhoods in Gibsons, Roberts Creek, and Sechelt. coastcarco-op.ca
Media Contacts
Selena McLachlan Director of Marketing & Communications, Modo 778.989.6085 [email protected]
Matt McLean Executive Director, Coast Car Co-op 778.374.3092 [email protected]