Pic: GoToVan

Drivers in Hackney and Lewisham using the car sharing firm, Zipcar, can now leave vehicles in more destinations following the company’s expansion in the boroughs.

Zipcar has extended its service enabling drivers to end their journey in a different location to where it began. Previously, drivers had to return cars to the spot they started from.

Dubbed ‘Zipcar Flex’ the new service allows customers to  reserve a car near them up to 15 minutes before a journey via an app.

The company has rolled out the new service across the capital since it was launched last summer.

Zipcar say the extension of the service to Hackney and Lewisham “is in line with” the Mayor of London’s plans to reduce car dependency in the capital.

“Our new Flex service makes the switch from car ownership to car ‘sharership’ easier,” a spokesperson said.

Corin Ashwell, Lewisham Green Party Coordinator, said while car sharing can help promote a transition away from individual car ownership, the new Zipcar service will encourage people to use a car for short journeys across inner London.

“We firmly believe those journeys should be largely made by active travel modes such as walking and cycling or by public transport,” he said.

Ashwell added the Flex service would have “negative implications for air quality and public health, especially in areas like Lewisham which regularly breach World Health Organisation standards for clean air.”