New service adds ‘zip’ to campus travel

By Enid Arbelo

ZIPPY NEW OPTION—Jonathan Herzog ’09 tries out one of the new Zipcars on campus. The national car-sharing service made its Rochester debut last week under the guidance of Christine Laurence (above), manager of business development for Zipcar. Through the new program, students, faculty, and staff can choose from one of four vehicles, including a hybrid, and reserve it for an hourly fee.

For students like Jonathan Herzog ’09, keeping a car on campus is a bit of a hassle. But the earth and environmental sciences major would love the freedom and flexibility that having a car can offer.

Now Herzog has a new option—Zipcar.

Zipcar, a national car-sharing service that debuted in Rochester last week, offers the use of a car without the costs of car payments, insurance, and maintenance.

“It’s more convenient than taking the buses,” says Herzog, a senator in the Students’ Association, while checking out a new Zipcar. “It would be great to get four or five of us out to dinner.”

University faculty, staff, and students 19 and older with three years of good driving history are eligible to use the service. To join, there’s a $30 annual fee. After that, members can reserve a car for $7 an hour. Reservations are made via the Zipcar Web site, allowing drivers to schedule trips 24 hours a day, seven days a week. When the reservation is made, members can head to Library Road, between Fauver Stadium and Susan B. Anthony Halls, and jump into one of the four cars.

The Zipcar fleet—a Honda Element, a Mazda 3 sport sedan, a Toyota Matrix sport wagon, and a hybrid Toyota Prius—are roomy, seating four to six passengers, and are loaded with XM radio and keyless entry. New members will be issued a Zipcard, which looks like a credit card but serves as a key that allows members to get inside the car. Once inside, drivers will find keys and a gas card.

University administrators say joining Zipcar is a perfect way to complement existing transportation options, such as the Rochester Every Day program, which debuted in 2003.

“We are thrilled to be bringing Zipcar to our campus. We think Zipcar fills an important niche for our students who are very active and involved in so many ways doing internships and who work within the area, but it will also promote more sensible use of cars,” says Jody Asbury, dean of students.

Zipcar is the largest car-sharing service in North America, with more than 70,000 drivers and operating more than 1,800 vehicles in 12 states and provinces. With 33 schools and about 12,000 students and faculty members, Zipcar is the largest university car-sharing program. Rochester joins other Zipcar schools, such as Harvard, Princeton, and Columbia.

To apply for an annual membership, visit www.zipcar.com/rochester. Or for more information, check out the Web site at www.zipcar.com.