The Sharing Economy in Italy

In Italy, the sharing economy is alive and well.  For example, Airbnb has a very strong presence in the heart of Florence. 

Another form of sharing is car-sharing.  Throughout Italy, car-sharing services are prevalent in large cities.  In fact, Florence is apparently one of the top places in Italy for car-sharing.  (Click here for a story.)  

Plus, you might remember in the 2016 Tom Hanks film Inferno, which was set in Florence, our hero and his partner elude the bad guys by jumping into a car-sharing vehicle and driving away.  

The vehicles are small and well-suited to individual users in crowded cities with narrow streets.  In addition, many vehicles are electric which means less noise and exhaust in the city.  A good thing.

Below are a couple of photos of cars waiting for their next driver.  

In Florence, around the corner from our apartment

In Milan, a line of car-sharing vehicles near the main train station

P.S.  You might have wondered whether we have used one of the car-sharing vehicles.  The answer is no.  Driving in Florence and elsewhere in Italy is for fearless drivers who aspire to drive Formula One cars.  So, we leave the driving to someone else.