In Montreal, journalist Louis-Philippe Messier explores the urban environment while highlighting Communauto, a car-sharing service managed by a dedicated team. As the fleet expands, employees tackle challenges like vehicle maintenance and managing lost items. With plans to add hundreds of new cars in 2025, the demand for car-sharing continues to rise, showcasing the dynamic nature of urban transportation and community engagement within the city.
Exploring the Urban Landscape of Montreal with Communauto
In the vibrant city of Montreal, journalist Louis-Philippe Messier embraces an active lifestyle, often running with his office tucked away in his backpack. His mission? To uncover captivating stories and connect with individuals from all walks of life in this bustling urban chronicle.
Behind the scenes of Montreal’s car-sharing service, Communauto, a dedicated team of around forty employees tirelessly manages a growing fleet of vehicles. They deal with everything from dirty cars in need of washing to abandoned vehicles from other provinces, all while sorting through piles of lost items and issuing fines to users who don’t comply with the rules.
“People often don’t grasp that Communauto is akin to the Universe: it’s always expanding!” chuckles Bellahsen Moumeni, a road agent with four years of experience at the car-sharing service.
The Expanding Fleet and Its Management
Mr. Moumeni introduces me to a room in the bustling metropolitan offices, where walls are lined with thousands of small plastic lockers. “These contain the duplicates of keys for the 5,000 Communauto vehicles operating in Montreal,” he explains.
That equates to a staggering 20,000 winter tires that need to be installed! The latest locker holds the key for the 11,176th vehicle, and projections suggest we could hit the milestone of 12,000 by the close of 2025.
Yves Morin, another staff member, is busy numbering and cataloging keys for twenty new Chevrolet Trax. Each key is meticulously tagged with a unique metal medallion and an insertion pin for the glove compartment. The process of transforming a brand-new car into a fully operational “Communauto” takes approximately three weeks.
Simon Rouleau-Mailloux, the fleet manager, expresses optimism: “We aim to have these new Trax on the road by Christmas.” During peak summer months, some vehicles can rack up an impressive 10,000 kilometers. Regular maintenance is a priority, with each car receiving a wash once a month, and staff are on standby for urgent clean-ups when necessary.
Forgotten Items and Fines
At the entrance of the offices, I encounter a staggering pile of forgotten items: hair extensions, books, booster seats, and even a crutch. “These are the lost treasures found in our cars this week,” Mr. Moumeni shares. Unclaimed items typically find their way to Renaissance, a local charity.
“Occasionally, users leave behind bulky waste intended for the eco-center, which we then have to manage,” he adds with a hint of frustration. A nearby “ticket box” brims with fines collected during the week, as Communauto charges penalties to users who fail to adhere to the rules.
As we drive through the city, we come across a Communauto vehicle with a license plate from Nova Scotia, abandoned and awaiting transport back to Halifax. Mr. Moumeni and I make our way to Rivière-des-Prairies, where a member’s vehicle was seized due to a drunk driving incident. The cost to retrieve it from the impound lot? A hefty $773, which will be charged to the offender.
This particular car has been sitting idle since October 28, requiring a jump-start to get back on the road. “Is it really necessary to keep a public utility vehicle like this off the streets for a month when it could have facilitated around 250 trips?” I ponder, considering the implications.
After our visit to the impound lot, I assist in putting the vehicle back into service in Rosemont, near Beaubien and Saint-Laurent. “We’re about to add another vehicle to our self-service fleet,” Mr. Moumeni announces with enthusiasm.
With a flourish, he applies the Flex logo to the door of a newly designated Kia Sportage. “Tada! This SUV is now ready for users!” The vehicle is rented almost instantly after being put into service, showcasing the demand for car-sharing options.
Looking ahead, plans are in place to introduce between 700 and 900 new cars in 2025, a move that will undoubtedly contribute to both the ever-growing collection of forgotten items and the dedicated team of car cleaners at Communauto!