‘Green’ car-sharing program available for students

State Hornet Staff

Students, staff and faculty have the option to rent cars without the cost of gas or insurance this semester with the debut of the environmentally friendly Zipcars, part of  the world’s largest car-sharing program.

Zipcars take a new approach to the traditional car-rental system by following the mantra of keeping it simple. It allows users easy access to transportation – all while reducing carbon emissions.

Available 24 hours a day, Zipcars can be activated by holding a membership-based Zipcard up to the windshield, which is received upon application. Once approved, one can reserve time slots for the Zipcar either online or through a mobile device.

Gas and insurance are included as a part of the hourly and daily rates. Sac State students can join the program for $35 a year, with weekday rates beginning at $8 per hour or $66 per day and weekend rates of $9 per hour and $72 per day.

Starting this week, a Toyota Prius and Ford Focus are now officially available for students, staff and faculty who have been approved by Zipcar. The two self-service vehicles are  parked in a designated area of the residence hall parking lot.

“While the Zipcars are available to all, we placed the vehicles in a location where more students will find it convenient,” said Gina Lombardo, director of University Transportation and Parking Services.

Lombardo also said members of Sac State must be 18 years old and have a clean driving record to access the vehicles, which provides an easier alternative to traditional car-renting, where the minimum age requirement is 25. The age requirement for the general public to rent a Zipcar is 21.

Freshman Jamillah Criner was fond of the concept behind Zipcars, and

said she expects to take advantage of the offer.

“I think it is amazing.” Criner said.

Criner said she feels Zipcar is the perfect solution for students who are too young to rent a car. It provides an inexpensive, more versatile alternative to public transportation.

Criner will not have a car on campus this semester, which makes the Zipcar program a convenient and affordable option for her.

“I won’t have to spend money    on gas, which means more money for shopping.” Criner said.

While Zipcars can ease time and financial constraints, they can also help alleviate traffic congestion by decreasing the amount of vehicles on and around campus.

A booth was set up Friday for the residence hall move-in day, when Zipcar representatives informed new students of the benefits Zipcar can offer and showcased the campus zipcars.

Over time, Zipcars aim to lessen the public’s dependence on personally owned cars, placing an emphasis on car-sharing. As mentioned on the Zipcar website, “each Zipcar takes at least 15 personally owned vehicles off the road.”

During the beginning of the Zipcar program at Sac State, there will only be two cars available for rent.

Lombardo said this semester will serve as a test to observe the program’s success.

“We plan to start out with two vehicles, but if the demand increases we will add more,” Lombardo said.

Lombardo also said upon a higher demand, more vehicles will be available at other locations on campus, including the Well.

Lombardo predicts a positive response to the new program, considering Sac State is among a large number of universities such as UC Davis that have successfully partnered with the car-sharing program.

Zipcar representatives who attended move-in day said they see Zipcar as worthwhile for all users. They said universities initially start out with just two vehicles to see if it is profitable, and that 50 members are required for each car for it to be considered economical.

Once Sac State exceeds the minimum amount of members to be seen as a success, expansion could be on the way.

More information on how to apply for the car-sharing program can be found online on Zipcar’s website at www.zipcar.com.