As a Canadian company, we at Communauto are no strangers to snow and ice in the winter. But it still takes some adjusting each time we enter a new snowy season.
Read on to hear how we prepare our fleet (and our carsharers!) for winter.
Perks
Free FLEX use – Snow Operation
If you joined over the summer, you might not know the joy of a snow operation yet! When there is poor weather this winter, members can use FLEX for free overnight in exchange for parking the car off-street. We will send an email with more details when the first snow operation happens.
FLEX Snow Removal Credit
For the winter, a grace period of up to 15 minutes will be applied while you get the FLEX car ready to drive. Take your time to clear the snow before driving – you will only start paying for your trip when you start to drive (or 15 minutes after you started the trip, whichever comes first). Learn more here.
Parking
Parking can be a little more challenging with snowbanks at the side of the road or snow-clearing piles in station lots. But remember that Communauto members are part of a community! So it is important to leave the cars in a way that doesn’t negatively affect your fellow members or neighbours.
Park at stations respectfully
Don’t give carsharing a bad name or damage our relationships with station owners.
Many round-trip vehicles in Alberta have designated on-street parking stations, and you simply park close to the intersection. Some cars have reserved parking spaces which will be waiting for you at the end of each trip. Stay alert to make sure you park in the right place and always consult the station info by clicking on the name of the station in your app to find out the rules applicable to this location.
Release FLEX following all rules
If in doubt while releasing a FLEX car, check our parking guide so you can avoid being ticketed or towed. You can click on the P icon in the app anytime during your trip to consult the guide.
If you have a FLEX during a snow operation make sure you park respecting any temporary signage.
Accessories for winter
Snow tires and other supplies
All of our cars are equipped with snow tires for the winter season. You will also find scrapers, snow brushes, and shovels in each car.
Sometimes you may need to use the shovel
It’s no secret that snow makes driving and parking difficult for all car users. But we still need to drive with care and safety in mind. You can use the provided shovel to move some snow out of your way.
If you are unable to move the snow (for example, due to health reasons) you can see if there’s a car available at an indoor station, or call in advance to cancel your reservation. You can also contact us for other suggestions.
If the car gets stuck while you are using it, you remain responsible for it, and everyone is expected to either fix the situation on their own or contact us right away for help.
Return accessories
The shovel and the snow brush must remain in the vehicle so that the next member can also use them. Strangely, some vehicles end up with three snow brushes and two shovels while others do not have any! If you notice anything is missing, please let us know so we can take care of it.
Please store these accessories in the trunk after using them. It’s never very pleasant to sit on a soggy seat.
Leave enough wiper fluid
So as not to be caught off guard, we strongly advise you to check the washer fluid level before using a vehicle and, if necessary, refill using the container in the vehicle. Let us know if the bottle is low so we can replace it!
