Wright State partners with Zipcar to offer car sharing, provide an alternative to car ownership on campus

Wright State's partnership with Zipcar provides two vehicles for students, faculty and staff at an affordable rate 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Wright State University has launched a new partnership with Zipcar, Inc., the world’s leading car-sharing network, to offer a car-sharing program on campus.

Details of the partnership were disclosed during a news conference March 20 in front of the Student Union.

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 local community members ages 21 and over.

Wright State will initially offer two vehicles, a Ford Focus and a Toyota Prius, which will be located in front of the Student Union. Zipcars are available on demand and can be easily reserved and accessed 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Kyle Powell, president-elect of Student Government, said Zipcar will give students without vehicles easy access to cars at a low cost.

“Zipcar will benefit international students, students who don’t drive a lot, residents who don’t come to Wright State with a car to use, and anyone else who needs to use a car at any time of the day,” Powell said. “I’m glad to see that Wright State has continued to help the students here on campus.”

Wright State student Kyle Powell

Kyle Powell, president-elect of Student Government, said Zipcar will give students without vehicles easy access to cars at a low cost.

This year, Wright State members can join for $25, with rates for Zipcar vehicles on campus starting as low as $7.50 per hour and $69 per day. After the first year, members will pay an annual membership fee of $35. Gasoline, insurance, a reserved parking spot 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.

Wright State students, faculty and staff can join Zipcar at zipcar.com/wrightstate.

Participating members with smartphones, including iPhones and Android devices, may download the Zipcar mobile app 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.

“The Zipcar program on campus will give students, as well as faculty and staff, the freedom of having a car without having to experience the hassles,” said Katelyn Lopresti, general manager for Zipcar University. “We’re happy to partner with Wright State University to help give their community a transportation option to fit their needs and their wallet.”

With the new Zipcar program available on campus, student organizations at Wright State have the opportunity to participate in the “Students with Drive” grant program, sponsored by Zipcar and Ford Motor Company, which provides students with Zipcar membership and driving credit to support student organizations on campus.

Through the Students with Drive grant program, Ford and Zipcar will provide $300,000 in grants to student organizations at eligible Zipcar colleges and universities. The program is running now through April 2014 and will culminate with one student organization being awarded a grand prize of $5,000 in Zipcar driving credit, $10,000 in cash for the student organization to put toward its cause, and $10,000 in cash to be awarded to the student organization’s school.

Students can learn more and participate in the program by visiting the “Students with Drive” tab on Zipcar University’s Facebook page. Zipcar has established relationships with more than 350 universities across North America.

More information, including details on how to become a member of Zipcar at Wright State, is available on the company’s website. Additional information and promotions can also being found by following @ZipcarU on Twitter.

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