Eugene BioCarShare

Back in the spring of 2003, social activist Matthew Rutman (third from left in the photo) and a small band of like-minded Eugeneans got together to organize Eugene BioCarShare, a biodiesel-car-sharing co-op. Others pictured are Michael White, Matt Branch, Lily Payne, Tree Bressen, Leeann Ford, Ephraim Payne, and Elliot Shuford. "Matthew was our visionary," says Bressen, a founding member. "We bought our car at the beginning of summer." Each member chipped in $375 to purchase a 1982 Mercedes diesel sedan. The car is powered with clean-burning biodiesel fuel, available locally through SeQuential Biofuels. Co-op members get around town by bike or public transport. They schedule use of the car for out-of-town work or recreation through an interface on their web site, biocarshare.org. "I do the bookkeeping," says Ford, who is studying to become a CPA. Others take on chores such as maintenance and refueling. Members pay a small monthly fee to cover insurance and repair, plus 30 cents a mile (includes fuel) when they drive. In a year-and-a-half, the car has been driven 12,000 miles. New members are welcome -- call 434-6347 for details.