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Don’t have a car on campus? Not a problem. Millersville University (MU) will launch a new partnership with Zipcar, the world’s leading car-sharing network, on January 31, to offer a car sharing program on campus. The service gives students the freedom to get off campus without the hassles of owning a car while also helping MU meet sustainability goals by reducing the need for personal vehicles and parking spots on campus.
“The Zipcar option for our students really frees them to be on the move at a moment’s notice without worrying about the costs associated with maintaining their own vehicle,” said Dr. Michelle Pérez, associate vice president for Student Engagement.
The convenient, self-service transportation option is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week for students, faculty and staff ages 18 and older, and members of the local community ages 21 and older. Cars can be reserved for as little as an hour or for multiple days.
The two cars have names; the Ford Focus is “Snappy” and the Honda Fit is “Medina.”
“Over 50 percent of our travel-related greenhouse gas emissions comes from students traveling to campus,” says Chris Steuer, sustainability manager at Millersville. “Partnering with Zipcar gives students, particularly those who live on campus, the confidence to carpool or take the bus or train to get to campus knowing that they still have access to a vehicle for local trips.”
Two vehicles will be available. The Zipcars have designated parking spots in McComsey Parking Lot right now and will be located at the Lombardo Welcome Center when it opens.
MU members can join for $15, with rates starting as low as $7.50 per hour and $69 per day. After the first year, members will pay an annual membership fee of $25. Gas, maintenance, insurance and up to 180 miles of driving per day are included in Zipcar rates.
The Zipcar app is a one-stop shop for joining Zipcar, reserving a car nearby, extending reservations and locking and unlocking a vehicle. MU students can now zip to the grocery store, to a doctor’s appointment or to an internship. And international students can enjoy peace-of-mind with an easy way to get around the U.S.
“In addition to giving students the freedom to go where they want, when they want, Zipcar will also help Millersville become a more sustainable university,” says Katelyn Bushey, director of university programs, Zipcar. “Car sharing encourages students to leave their car at home or get rid of it altogether, which reduces carbon output, making campuses cleaner and healthier.”
Zipcar is the largest and most longstanding campus car-sharing provider with a presence on more than 500 colleges and universities across North America, from small private colleges to large public universities.
For more information on how to become a member of Zipcar at Millersville University, please visit www.zipcar.com/millersville.
About Zipcar
Zipcar is the world’s leading car-sharing network, driven by a mission to enable simple and responsible urban living. With its wide variety of self-service vehicles available by the hour or day, Zipcar operates in urban areas and university campuses in over 500 cities and towns across Austria, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Spain, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States. Zipcar offers the most comprehensive, most convenient and most flexible car-sharing options available. Zipcar is a subsidiary of Avis Budget Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: CAR), a leading global provider of vehicle rental services. More information is available at www.zipcar.com/universities.
