KINGSTON, R.I. – Sept. 25, 2014 – Zipcar, Inc. is teaming up with the University of Rhode Island to offer a car sharing program on campus, available to students, faculty, and staff who are 18 and older, as well as members of the local community ages 21 and older. The official launch date is today, Sept. 25, 2014.
The convenient transportation option will be available at an affordable rate 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Two vehicles will be offered, a Ford Focus and a Toyota Prius. The Zipcars will have designated parking spots located in the campus lot near Merrow Hall for pick-up and return.
This year, URI members can join with a registration fee of $25. Rates for Zipcar vehicles on campus start as low as $7.50 per hour and $69 per day. Gas, insurance, and up to 180 miles of driving per day are included in Zipcar rates, and cars can be reserved for as little as an hour or for multiple days.
“On-demand access to a shared car on campus will make it easier for everyone, especially student residents, to leave their personal cars at home,” said Marsha Garcia, URI’s sustainability officer. “It will help reduce our carbon footprint and make the university a more sustainable place to work and study.”
Participating members with smartphones may download the Zipcar mobile application to make reservations, lock and unlock the vehicles and honk the horn to help locate the vehicle. Reservations can also be made over the phone or on Zipcar’s website.
“With the addition of Zipcar at URI, car sharing is now available at all non-commuter universities throughout the entire Ocean state,” said Katelyn Lopresti, general manager for Zipcar University. “With this program, today’s student drivers at the URI campus, as well as all other Zipcar universities throughout Rhode Island, are helping to bring sustainable benefits to their communities and state by embracing car sharing as part of their transportation options.”
For more information on how to become a member of Zipcar at URI, please visit Zipcar.