Zipcar: London Assembly slams TfL 'policy failure', Lewisham seeks alternatives
GLA Transport Committee called out TfL for its failure to act on their early warning, while Lewisham council looks for other options for staff journeys.
Car-sharing club Zipcar (owned by US firm Avis) announced at the start of December that it is departing from London and the UK.
The London Assembly transport committee held an extraordinary meeting on 16 December to discuss the impact on Londoners, including charities, small businesses and public bodies that used the service.
Lewisham council was one of those organisations and offered Zipcars for journeys by staff that could not be taken using public transport.
Tfl's 'lack of interest, engagement or even suspicion'
Richard Dilks, chief executive of shared transport charity CoMoUK (covering car clubs and bike sharing) told the London Assembly transport committee that the charity's reaction to Zipcar's announcement "was one of shock .. but far from complete surprise, unfortunately".
The transport committee had warned in its report TfL's Stalling Car Clubs in April 2025 that London's car clubs were at risk, but reported that its recommendations were not followed up.
Dilks continued that, in his experience, TfL had shown “lack of interest, lack of engagement, or even suspicion" towards car clubs, to a degree which seemed unique in authorities across the UK.
However, he had seen signs of change since Zipcar's announcement, and he was hopeful that positive progress would now be possible.
'Policy failure'
The transport committee wrote to Andy Lord, TfL commissioner and Sadiq Khan, London mayor on 23 December, describing Zipcar's departure as "a policy failure" which TfL could have taken steps to avoid.
They called on TfL to protect the existing car club parking bays and ensure that local Implementation Plan funding can be used for parking bays in future.
They also called for mayor and TfL to convene all the stakeholders: CoMoUK, all London boroughs, car club operators and London councils to support car clubs including a co-ordinated approach to procurement.
Two conservative Assembly Members (AMs), Thomas Turrell, AM for Bexley and Bromley, and Neil Garratt, AM for Croydon and Sutton, dissented from parts of the letter and did not sign it, which seems to have held it up for a week following the meeting.
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'accelerating progress towards a cleaner, healthier city'
CoMoUK wrote their own open letter to Sadiq Khan, London mayor, and Brenda Dacres, in her role as chair of London councils' Transport and Environment committee, which is additional to her role as mayor of Lewisham, on 16 December.
They point out that "car clubs can give people the confidence to live without owning a private car, helping reduce household costs, cut congestion, free up street space, and accelerate progress towards a cleaner, healthier city".
A wide range of signatories, including Newham council, legal firm Client Earth, Caroline Russell AM and campaigning groups, called for Khan and Dacres to "intervene in the current situation so that the GLA, TfL and London Councils are working with CoMoUK, boroughs and operators on an urgent plan."
They called for co-ordinated action across London, reduction of costs for car clubs and creating the conditions for electric car clubs to expand.
Lewisham council
The council has designated parking bays reserved for Zipcar around the borough and in addition had a number of Zipcars for use by staff.
A Lewisham council spokesperson said: “We are disappointed that Zipcar have ceased operating in the UK.
"We are always keen to work with providers that support our sustainable transport ambitions, and assist those who want to rely less on using a car.
“The Council is carefully considering alternative arrangements for our staff. We prioritise public transport for any work-related trips in and around the borough.”
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