Zipcar, the world’s largest car-sharing service company,
announced last week that it has partnered with UCSD to provide new
transportation options for the university. The partnership, which began last
year, comes as part of Zipcar’s national integration with Flexcar, UCSD’s
previous communal car service company.

There are now 14 Zipcars, former Flexcars, strategically
placed around campus for students, faculty and staff who are over the age of 18
to access 24 hours a day. Riders 21 and older can also access Zipcar’s extended
car network throughout the United Sates and in the United
Kingdom. For an hourly or daily rate, the
self-service cars — with gas, insurance, maintenance and parking provided — can
be reserved via phone or online.

UCSD Rideshare and Marketing Manager Curt Lutz said the cars
are useful for anything from running quick errands to weekend trips.

“Car sharing can be a convenient and cost-effective solution
to driving your own car to campus,” Lutz said. “Students who live on campus and
only need a vehicle occasionally could save quite a bit on parking fees,
insurance and other vehicle costs for a vehicle they may rarely use.”

Zipcar has worked with UCSD’s rideshare program to fulfill a
contract agreement with Transportation and Parking Services, and is offering
subsidized Zipcar membership and rates for all UCSD students, staff and
faculty.

Zipcar General Manager of Universities Jenny Larios said in
a statement that there are benefits to alternative transportation options.

“Zipcar helps alleviate the stress that individually owned
vehicles bring to the students, the university, and most importantly, the
environment,” she said.

UCSD is now one of the many colleges to employ Zipcar as an
alternative means of transportation. Other colleges include MIT, Columbia,
Georgetown, University
of Michigan, University
of Minnesota, University
of Toronto, University
of North Carolina and University
of Chicago.

The founders of Zipcar said they were inspired to create a
communal method of transportation in the United Sates after observing a similar
method in Berlin. Since then,
they have strived to decrease car usage, and promoted other transportation
methods, such as biking, walking and public transportation.

“Car-sharing programs like Zipcar are part of the broader
spectrum of programs offered through the university’s rideshare programs,” Lutz
said. It is meant to give access to personalized cars when needed for those who
participate in rideshare programs such as ride-matching, carpooling,
vanpooling, public transit and bicycling.

At the end of March, the Rideshare Operations program of
T&PS received the San Diego Association of Governments’ 2008 Diamond Award
for “Ongoing Commitment” to improving regional commute.

“The university is working as part of the greater community
to reduce our share of traffic and parking impacts, to reduce pollution and to
better use resources and work toward greater sustainability,” Lutz said.
“Together, we are moving in the right direction.”