FROM READERS.

Car Sharing in Japan

I found "Why Share?" by Gary Gardner (July/August 1999) very interesting and would like to introduce your readers to car-sharing experiments currently being carried out in Japan. They use small electric vehicles (EVs) and an intelligent transport system which connects a control center to the EVs. The system is designed to supplement conventional public transport: trains, buses, and cabs.

A member makes a reservation over the telephone or Internet. A control center sends the information to a computer in an EV. Each member has a small transmitter used to send his or her ID to the EV. The center confirms the member's ID and unlocks the car door using a cellular phone. The member can change the reservation while driving. The car navigation system shows the location of the car and traffic conditions. If the EV has trouble, the navigation screen shows the driver what to do. When the user returns the EV, used time and mileage are shown as well as the amount charged for use. The amount of gas emission saved in comparison to using a gasoline-burning car is also shown. A customer satisfaction function collects data for further improvement.

One experimental location is downtown Yokohama, where municipal and business offices, shopping, and sightseeing spots are situated. Thirty EVs are used with the participation of 20 companies and about 100 of their employees. This experiment is mainly for collecting data about business use. Another experiment in Tama New Town, a bedroom community outside Tokyo, is for housewives driving off or picking up their husbands or kids and for shopping, etc. In Kobe, the aim is use by tourists. Present experiments are parking-lot-to-parking-lot only, but eventually members will be able to leave their EVs anywhere. Current experiments will continue until March 2000, with more widespread use planned in a few years.

The same kinds of experiments are being conducted or planned by many municipalities and business organizations. In any case, the idea of car sharing is expected to solve the shortage of, parking lots, to make a better use of limited space, to reduce costs of purchasing EVs and, of course, to contribute to the environment by cutting gas emissions.

SETSUKO HARTLINE OKAYASU

Yokoyama, Japan

Will Sharing Invite Lawsuits?

I really enjoyed Gary Gardner's informative article titled "Why Share?" As a biologist, I found the ideas presented to be in harmony with my belief that we need to figure out ingenious ways to use less of the world's precious resources. How wonderful it would be if a group of my neighbors could share some of the items suggested. As an attorney, however, I was left with nagging concerns about liability issues. Who is responsible for maintenance of the shared items ensuring that they are safe before each use? How does one ensure that the person borrowing an item is knowledgeable about how to use it safely? And if a neighbor uses a shared lawn mower and is injured because the mower malfunctions, who is responsible for the damages? If another neighbor uses a shared kayak and drowns because of poor kayaking skills, who is responsible? In this day and...