Stetson University launched a new partnership with Zipcar, Inc., the world’s leading car-sharing network, on Friday, Nov. 2, officially starting a Zipcar car-sharing program on campus. The convenient transportation option is now available at an affordable rate 24 hours a day, seven days a week for students, faculty, and staff ages 18 and older, as well as members of the local community ages 21 and over.  This new program provides a sustainable and cost effective alternative to car ownership on campus.

This year, Stetson University members can join for a $25 annual membership fee, with rates on campus Zipcar vehicles starting as low as $7.50 per hour and $69 per day. Gas, insurance, reserved parking spots, up to 180 miles of driving per day and roadside assistance are included in Zipcar rates. Cars can be reserved for as little as an hour or for multiple days. Stetson University students, faculty and staff can join at www.zipcar.com/stetson.

“We wanted to bring Zipcar to Stetson to help remedy some of the transportation concerns that we hear year after year in the Student Government Association,” said Jeremy Rill, president of SGA. “It will allow students to be independent without bringing a car to campus, which will help us continue to decrease our carbon footprint. Zipcar will be a large step forward for us as a Student Government and for the university, and it will be another valuable service that we offer our students.”

Initially, Stetson University is offering two vehicles, including a Ford Focus and a Nissan Sentra, which will be located in campus lots near Carlton Union Building. Zipcars are self-service and can be easily reserved and accessed 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

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.  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 on Zipcar’s website.

“Cost-savings, convenience, reduced demand for parking and less congestion on campus are just some of the benefits that we are confident the Stetson University community will experience by having Zipcar on campus, said Michael Serafino, general manager for Zipcar University. “Since each car shared 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.”

With the new Zipcar program available on campus, student organizations at Stetson University also now have the opportunity to participate in the “Students with Drive” grant program sponsored by Zipcar and Ford Motor Company, which provides students with free Zipcar memberships and driving credits to support student organizations on campus.

Through the Students with Drive grant program, Ford and Zipcar will provide $300,000 in grants to be awarded to student organizations at eligible Zipcar colleges and universities. The program is running now through April 2013 and will culminate with one student organization being awarded a grand prize of $5,000 in Zipcar credits, $10,000 cash for the student organization to put toward its cause and $10,000 to be awarded to the winning school. For more information and to participate in the program, students can visit the “Students with Drive” tab on Zipcar’s University Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ZipcarU.

Zipcar has established partnerships with other universities in Florida, including the University of Florida and the University of Central Florida, along with more than 250 universities across the US. For more information and how to become a member of Zipcar at Stetson University, please visit www.zipcar.com/stetson.

About Zipcar

Zipcar is the world’s leading car-sharing network with more than 730,000 members and 11,000 vehicles located in major metropolitan 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 an alternative to the high costs and hassles of owning a car. More information is available at www.zipcar.com. Photos and b-roll footage are available for media purposes at www.zipcar.mediaroom.com.    Zipcar and the Zipcar logo are trademarks of Zipcar, Inc.