Sir Sadiq Khan has been urged to tackle the imminent departure of Zipcar from the capital, with Transport for London accused of acting as a major obstacle to car club success.
During a heated exchange at City Hall, London Assembly Member Elly Baker argued TfL does not recognise the validity of car-sharing models that allow Londoners to make occasional journeys without owning vehicles.
“By their neglect of the policy area, they are acting as a blocker,” Ms Baker stated, adding that she stands by this assessment despite the Mayor’s objections.
The Assembly Member noted TfL had failed to proactively engage with boroughs or operators following Zipcar’s withdrawal announcement, describing this inaction as mind-blowing.
She highlighted that a 100 per cent congestion charge discount for electric back-to-base car club vehicles had been offered, but questioned whether such measures had any meaningful impact.
The London Mayor firmly rejected the accusation that TfL was blocking car club development, challenging Ms Baker to back up her claims.
“I pushed back the assertion that TfL are blockers when it comes to car clubs,” the Mayor responded, though he acknowledged he would examine whether the transport body could be more proactive.
Sir Khan emphasised that his deputy mayors and TfL officials had recently met with Zipcar and other operators to discuss the situation, with further meetings arranged with boroughs.
The London Mayor was accused of acting as a ‘blocker’ to car clubs in London
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He announced plans to convene a roundtable in early 2026 to address the industry’s needs more broadly. The Mayor pointed out that Zipcar had already withdrawn from Brussels, Barcelona and Paris in previous years, suggesting London’s challenges were not unique.
“This Mayor believes in car clubs,” Sir Khan insisted, noting the company had remained in London longer than other European cities.
A survey conducted by Collaborative Mobility UK has revealed the potential consequences of Zipcar’s departure, with 60 per cent of respondents indicating they would need to purchase their own vehicle as a result.
The charity gathered 65 responses within just days of the closure announcement, with users expressing deep concern about losing the service.
Car clubs offer drivers access to vehicles more easily and at a cheaper rate | HACKNEY COUNCIL
“I’m gutted. Zipcar was a great service. It allowed our family to not own a car and get easy, quick and affordable access to a car when we occasionally needed it,” one member wrote.
Another user described the situation as “the opposite of what I want to be doing” after four years without car ownership, stating they would have no alternative for journeys where public transport, walking or cycling were not feasible.
The service has hundreds of thousands of members across the capital. Hackney Council responded to the crisis, with Councillor Sarah Young emphasising the borough’s commitment to maintaining alternatives to private vehicle ownership.
The East London borough hosted nearly 200 Zipcars and boasts one of the highest car club membership rates in the capital.
Car club operators have warned that the upcoming Congestion Charge hike will impact the sector
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COLLABORATIVE MOBILITY UK“Hackney residents really value the ability to use Zipcar and other car clubs,” Ms Young stated, noting that low car ownership levels make such services essential for both residents and businesses.
Assembly Member Andrew Bof offered an alternative perspective, suggesting the Mayor himself was the true obstacle to car club expansion.
He pointed to the London Plan’s parking allocation rules, which require car club spaces to compete with residential parking provision in new developments rather than being allocated separately.
“Can you undertake the new plan to rectify that situation and allow car club spaces to be in addition to the allocation?” Mr Bof asked.
However, Sir Khan defended the existing approach, stating that London boroughs had contributed to the plan’s development and their concerns had been taken into account.
