NEWS

FAQ: How BlueIndy works

John Tuohy
john.tuohy@indystar.com

The BlueIndy car share program kicked off Wednesday after weeks of controversy, so now is a good time to find out how you can put it to use.

For $12 an hour, in some cases, customers can rent one of the cars for quick jaunts to the grocery store or to drive themselves to the airport.

The sometimes controversial venture by the Bolloré Group, of France, is being rolled out in phases, with at least 500 cars at 200 charging stations eventually spread across Indianapolis. Twenty-six stations are open, mostly Downtown and close to it.

Mayor Greg Ballard sees the program as an energy-saving alternative method of transportation that will appeal to young adults and empty nesters living Downtown who don’t own cars.

But many critics on the City-County Council contend that the $50 million operation was pushed through illegally by Ballard, without proper oversight and the necessary city permitting.

But it could still benefit you or someone you know. Here’s how the program works, in five easy steps.

1. A credit card and driver’s license are necessary. For a membership, go online to www.blue-indy.com or download the BlueIndy mobile app on iPhone or Android. Memberships are yearly ($120), monthly ($19.99), weekly ($9.99) and daily (no cost). Your rental rate will be based on what type of plan you have.

2. While yearly membership cards will be mailed, the others must be picked up at self-serve, full-service kiosks at Washington and Meridian streets or outside the City-County Building, 11 N. Delaware St.

3. Your card lets you check a car out of any station. Hold the card to the reader at the kiosk to identify your car. Next, unlock the car by swiping the card on the driver’s-side mirror. Go to the rear passenger side. Open the charger door where the wire is attached. Pull out the plug and let the wire unspool into the curbside charging station.

4. Get in the car. The ignition key is inside. Turn it twice to start the car and light up the dashboard. It has a GPS showing where other stations are and a phone connection to a 24/7 BlueIndy helper.

5. To drive, release the emergency brake in the center console. Step on the brake, shift from neutral into gear. Drive to a BlueIndy station near your destination. Park, shift to neutral and lock the emergency brake. Get out, unlock the charging station with a card swipe and attach the plug into the car. Once you do, the fare meter stops running and you’ll stop paying.

How much are the rental rates?

The cost per minute is 20 cents, or $4 for 20 minutes, with a yearly membership, 30 cents with a monthly pass, 35 cents with a weekly pass and 40 cents with a daily pass. So it costs twice as much if you go with the day pass instead of a yearly.

What are these cars supposed to be used for?

They are the “get-around” hybrid of a taxi, bicycle and bus but cheaper, roomier and faster, respectively. They are intended for short errands, such as shopping, visiting a museum, offering lifts to the airport or going to a restaurant.

In a practical sense, how does a typical trip break down cost-wise?

If you take a car from the station at 54th Street and College Avenue to an appointment Downtown, you’ll probably spend about 40 minutes driving both ways. That’s $8 with a yearly pass and $16 with a daily. But you’ll park free in a prime spot since there are so many stations Downtown. A cab costs about $15 each way. An IndyGo bus is $1.75 each way.

What if there aren’t any cars at my station when I come out of the grocery store?

Call the BlueIndy helpline at (800) 329-2058, and they’ll send out a person with a car in 20 minutes or tell you whether there is one at a nearby station.

What if there aren’t any parking spots when I pull into a station?

They’ll tell you how to park without getting charged.

Can’t I just walk up to a station and rent a car?

Only at the two full-service kiosks. Eventually, 10 to 15 locations will have walk-up service.

Call Star reporter John Tuohy at (317) 444-6418. Follow him on Twitter: @john_tuohy.