Zipcar car sharing hits UCF
Today the University of Central Florida is launching a new partnership with Zipcar, Inc., the world’s leading car-sharing network, to offer a Zipcar car-sharing program on campus. The cost-effective and convenient transportation option is now available 24-hours a day, seven days a week to all students, faculty and staff members ages 18 and older.
UCF members pay a $35 annual fee to participate in the program. Members can reserve cars for as little as an hour or for multiple days. Rates on all Zipcars start as low as $8 per hour and $66 per day. Gas, insurance, reserved parking spots, up to 180 miles of driving per day and roadside assistance are included in the hourly and daily rates.
“We are continuously seeking ways to improve campus life, and by bringing Zipcar to campus we are able to provide more options for safe, reliable and low-cost transportation to students and the community,” said Kris Singh, director of UCF Parking & Transportation Services. “In addition, car sharing helps us lower our community’s carbon footprint and impact on the environment.”
Four vehicles will be available, including two hybrid Honda Insights and two MAZDA3’s. Two cars will be located in parking lot B9 across from the Recreational and Wellness Center, while the other two vehicles will be located in parking lot H4 near the Visual Arts Building.
Zipcars are self-service and can be easily reserved and accessed 24-hours a day. Participating members with smartphones, including iPhone and Android devices, may download the Zipcar mobile application to make reservations, lock and unlock the vehicles, as well as honk the horn to help locate the vehicle. Reservations can also be made over the phone or by using the Zipcar website.
“Bringing Zipcar to UCF will help reduce congestion and the demand for parking on campus, in addition to providing convenience, flexibility and cost savings to members,” said Mark Norman, Zipcar’s president and COO. “Zipcar also offers environmental benefits to the campus as well. National studies have shown that each car shared takes 15 privately owned vehicles off the road, and that vehicle miles traveled per driver is reduced almost 50 percent when car owners switch to car sharing.”
Zipcar has established partnerships with more than 230 universities, including University of Florida and Georgia State University. For more information, including how to become a member of Zipcar at UCF, visit www.zipcar.com/ucf or call 1.800.4ZIPCAR.