University of Miami Welcomes Zipcar to Campus

        Car-sharing program offers fuel efficient vehicles on demand



    CORAL GABLES, Fla., Aug. 22 /EMWNews/ -- When students come back for

classes at the University of Miami in late August, a new transportation

option will be available to them called Zipcar, an innovative car-sharing

program that allows members to reserve cars online or via phone or mobile

device for an hourly rate of $8 that includes gas and insurance.



    Zipcar, the world's largest provider of cars on demand by the hour or

day, which is currently being utilized by 80 universities, allows members

to pay an annual fee of $35, and have the flexibility to have a fuel

efficient vehicle without actually owning or leasing a car -- or paying for

insurance or gasoline.



    That's especially helpful for freshmen residents at UM, who are not

able to bring their cars to campus for the first time this fall.



    "Student Government is thrilled that the University will offer this new

option, allowing students the opportunity to easily move around Miami and

see everything that it has to offer," said Brandon Gross, who petitioned

the administration to explore this option in his position as President of

Student Government. "Students can travel off campus to attend interviews,

run errands, or take a weekend trip, and they don't have to spend money on

the upkeep of their own car."



    UM faculty and staff on all campuses can use this new service which

will translate into fewer cars, said Alan Fish, Vice President for Business

Services, who oversees the "Green U" campus sustainability program at UM.

"The partnership with Zipcar continues UM's commitment to invest in

sustainable solutions on campus, and gives students, faculty and staff an

environmentally friendly way of getting around," said Fish. To get a Zipcar

membership, visit http://www.zipcar.com/umiami.



    Among the universities that have partnered with Zipcar to reduce

traffic, noise and parking demands are MIT, Columbia, Georgetown, Rutgers,

Harvard University, American University, University of Toronto, and the

University of North Carolina.



    Members of the press are invited to see UM's fleet of Zipcars at a

launch event scheduled for Noon on Friday, August 22, at "The Rock" at the

Whitten University Center, 1306 Stanford Drive, on UM's Coral Gables

campus.

    About Zipcar



    Zipcar is the world's leading car-sharing service with 225,000 members

and 5,500 vehicles in urban areas and college campuses throughout 27 North

American states and provinces as well as in London, England. As a leader in

urban transportation, Zipcar offers more than 30 makes and models of

self-service vehicles by the hour or day to savvy city residents and

businesses looking for an alternative to the high costs and hassles of

owning a car. For more information, visit http://Zipcar.com.






    Press Contact



    Maria Martinez

    CooperKatz for Zipcar

    (917) 595-3059

    [email protected]