First-on-SouthCoast program to add convenient, cost-effective and environmentally-friendly alternative to owning a car
The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth today launched a new partnership with Zipcar, Inc., the world's leading car-sharing network, to offer a Zipcar car-sharing program on campus and bring the first Zipcars to the SouthCoast. The cost-effective and convenient transportation option is now available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to all students, faculty, and staff ages 18 and older, as well as members of the local community ages 21 and over.
"We're proud to bring the first Zipcars to the SouthCoast," said UMass Dartmouth Chancellor Jean F. MacCormack. "This partnership with one of the most innovative and green companies in Massachusetts will provide a cost-effective transportation solution for students, staff, and faculty while also demonstrating our commitment to sustainability."
This year, UMass Dartmouth members can join Zipcar for $25, with rates on campus Zipcar vehicles starting as low as $7 per hour and $66 per day. Gas, insurance, reserved parking spots, up to 180 miles of driving per day and roadside assistance are included in the hourly and daily Zipcar rates. Cars can be reserved for as little as an hour or for multiple days. To join, visit www.zipcar.com/umassd.
Chancellor MacCormack noted that Zipcars bring multiple benefits to the UMass Dartmouth community and will give students from outside the SouthCoast an easy option for travel between home and campus while reducing carbon emissions and freeing up parking spaces for commuter students and visitors.
UMass Dartmouth will initially offer two vehicles, including a Ford Focus and a Honda Insight Hybrid, which will be located on campus in Visitor Lot 5. Zipcars are self-service and can be easily reserved and accessed 24 hours a day.
Participating members with smartphones may download the Zipcar mobile applications to make reservations, lock and unlock the vehicles as well as honk the horn to help locate the vehicle. Members can also use Zipcar's "Reserve a Zipcar" app on Facebook to view available Zipcars and make, extend or cancel a reservation all from their Facebook account. Reservations can also be made over the phone or by using the Zipcar website.
"Cost-savings, convenience, reduced demand for parking and less congestion on campus are just some of the benefits that we are confident the UMass Dartmouth community will experience by having Zipcar on campus," said Michael Serafino, General Manager, Zipcar University. "Since every Zipcar takes approximately 15 privately owned vehicles off the road, Zipcar can also help the campus reduce its overall carbon footprint and impact on the environment."
Zipcar has established partnerships with more than 250 colleges and universities. For more information, including how to become a member of Zipcar at UMass Dartmouth, please visit www.zipcar.com/umassd.
About Zipcar
Zipcar is the world's leading car-sharing service with approximately 650,000 members and 9,000 vehicles in urban areas and college campuses throughout the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. Zipcar offers more than 30 makes and models of self-service vehicles by the hour or day to residents and businesses looking for an alternative to the high costs and hassles of owning a car. More information is available at www.zipcar.com.
Zipcar and the Zipcar logo are trademarks of Zipcar, Inc.
About UMass Dartmouth
The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth is ranked among the top regional public universities in the Northeast by U.S. News and World Report. UMass Dartmouth serves nearly 9,500 students enrolled in more than 49 undergraduate and 26 graduate programs at the main campus in North Dartmouth and sites in Fall River and New Bedford.