Renting Space

Interesting story about how the Japanese rent cars but not to drive them. 

The idea of using a car as a nap pod, a phone booth, or even a private YouTube studio to record a rap session is fascinating, and it highlights how the primary function of a service is always up for interpretation. 

Reading this reminded me of that last summer before J drove herself wherever she needed to be. Given the places I needed to take her and the timing of these things, I worked from inside the car for the better part of two months. Snagging free wifi at a Starbucks was easy but presenting while on a conference call was not an option. So I used my car much like the Japanese did. 

For ride-sharing and rental companies this is an easy way to make money while the cars sit idle waiting to be driven. Imagine an pesky six hour layover in a big city with horrendous traffic. Its not enough time to check out the sights but an awful lot of time to waste just sitting around being uncomfortable. Would be great to jump into the backseat of an SUV, catch a nap, get caught up on work right at the airport and walk back in closer to the time of the flight. The option to drive if time and mood permit is always a bonus.