Many people like to talk a big game about alternative transportation and greener ways of getting around town. Bicyclist, skateboarders, walkers, bus riders, rider sharers all have their ways of getting around town, but the sad fact remains that for many people using your car remains one of the easiest and most effective ways of getting around.

So what if there was a way to have a car, cut the costs of having a ride, and possibly do a little more to help the environment?

It is indeed possible.

Transportation geeks and other folks concerned with how we all get where we want to go are holding meetings over the next few days in Portland to talk about car-sharing.

Last fall I wrote about the emergence of Zipcar, the car-sharing service, at Bates College and the University of Maine.

For those unfamiliar, Zipcar is a company that allows people to basically rent cars for use for hours at a time. The service is paid for by rental fees, and a membership fee, leaving drivers responsible for keeping the car in good shape and keeping the tank full.

Aside from being a little environmentally friendly, the service can be an amazing cost savings compared to car payments, insurance, stickers, taxes and now rising gas prices.

These and many more reasons are what will be up for discussion at meetings tonight and Saturday in Portland. Matti Gurney, a transportation planner with the Greater Portland Council of Governments, is leading the discussions, which will look at how car sharing services work, what the costs are and how to find funding for everything.

Tonight's meeting takes place at the Munjoy Hill Neighborhood Association at 92 Congress St. starting at 6 p.m.

On Saturday the meeting swings to the other end of the peninsula at the Reiche School Community Center on Bracket Street starting at 10 a.m.

Fired up about alternative transportation? Tired of the high cost of having a car? Just curious? Stop by to find out more, or check out the Portland Maine Zipcar group on Facebook.

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