INDIANAPOLIS - Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis today launched a new partnership with Zipcar, the world’s leading car-sharing network, to offer Zipcars on campus. The convenient transportation option will be available 24 hours a day, seven days a week for students, faculty and staff ages 18 and older, as well as members of the general public ages 21 and older.
IUPUI will offer two fuel-efficient vehicles, a Ford Focus and Toyota Prius, which will be in campus lot 80 near Vermont Street and University Boulevard. Zipcars are available on demand or can be reserved.
“IUPUI is excited that Zipcar is offering a car-sharing program for the campus community starting this fall,” said Rich Strong, chair of the IUPUI Transportation Sustainability Committee. “Zipcar will allow students, faculty and staff to leave their vehicles at home and have transportation when needed at a reasonable cost. Car sharing was an important initiative of the Transportation Sustainability Committee, and we’re extremely happy that Zipcar will be here.”
This year, IUPUI faculty, students and staff can join for a $25; rates on campus Zipcars start as low as $7.50 per hour and $69 per day. After the first year, members will pay an annual membership fee of $35. Gas, insurance, reserved parking spots 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. Participating members with smartphones, including iPhones and Android devices, 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.
“Zipcar will give the IUPUI community the freedom and flexibility to attend job interviews and participate in off-campus activities like internships without the hassle of owning a car,” said Katelyn Lopresti, general manager for Zipcar University. “At the same time, students and faculty members alike can be proud that they are reducing the carbon footprint of their campus by using alternative transportation methods like car sharing.”
About Zipcar
Zipcar, the world’s leading car-sharing network, has operations in urban areas and college campuses throughout the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Spain and Austria. Zipcar offers more than 30 makes and models of self-service vehicles by the hour or day to residents and businesses looking for smart, simple and convenient solutions to their urban and campus transportation needs. Zipcar is a subsidiary of Avis Budget Group, a global leader in car-sharing and vehicle rental services.