I think we all remember how tough not having a car on Grounds was first year, and some of us (me included) as upperclassmen still don't have the luxury of having a car to drive whenever we need to go to Barracks or anywhere down Route 29. But on Nov. 17, the University's Department of Parking and Transportation introduced a new program to help out all of those car-less first years and upperclassmen. The new Zipcar program allows students to rent cars on a daily or hourly basis, and is a cost-effective, environmentally conscious alternative to having a car on Grounds.
University students can sign up for Zipcar for the low price of $35 per year and can then rent a car for $66 per day or $8 per hour on weekdays, and $72 per day or $9 per hour on weekends. This price includes gas, insurance, and 180 free miles. At first glance, these prices might seem a bit steep, but in comparing these prices with other costs to having a car on Grounds, these costs in many cases may actually be cheaper. Currently, the most inexpensive parking option for on-Grounds students is to buy a parking permit for the Emmet/Ivy Garage, but this option costs $192 a year. And for a spot in Lambeth, Bice, or other upperclassmen housing areas, the price runs $440 for the year. Of course, the Zipcar option may not be the best for those who need regular access to a car; using the program multiple times a week could potentially become more expensive than investing in an Emmet/Ivy Garage spot. But for those of us who only need a car once every couple of weeks to go grocery shopping (and don't want to lug bags of groceries and melted ice cream onto the bus), Zipcars are a convenient, time-saving alternative.
Not only can Zipcars save money for students living on-Grounds, but the new program can also prove to be a great asset for those off-Grounds. Many apartment complexes charge exorbitant amounts to have a car in an assigned spot - a parking spot in the GrandMarc garage can cost as much as $70 per month. Additionally, free street parking in popular areas such as 14th Street and Jefferson Park Avenue is often hard to come by; students often have to park blocks away from their homes to ensure parking in a non tow-away zone. There's also the fact that these on-street parking spots, and even many of the parking garages and University lots, experience a number of break-ins every year. I think most of us know at least one person or have at least heard of someone who has had a GPS or iPod stolen from his car.
The University's Zipcar program solves all of these problems. Second-year College student Doc McConnell has used the new program, and stated that "It's the perfect solution. You don't have to pay for gas, insurance, cleaning, or maintenance. You pay one $35 annual fee, and then you rent the car as much or as little as you want, with no ongoing charges." McConnell further argued in favor of the program, saying, "With six cars available, you're practically guaranteed to find a car when you want one... It's like owning six cars at once." The Zipcar program is a user-friendly one as well as a convenient one. To rent a car, you simply join online, and get a Zipcard within days. After you've joined the program, you simply reserve a car either online or over the phone (you can do this minutes before you need the car, or months); your Zipcard then gives only you access to the car during your reserved time slot.
Zipcar is not only cost-effective, but has the potential to be extremely environmentally friendly as well. Hopefully the new program will cut down on the number of vehicles in the University community, and according to Rebecca White, the University's director of parking and transportation, "Investing in alternative transportation and reducing the number of cars on campus are key tenets of our overall approach to sustainability." The six cars chosen for the Zipcar program also represent a move toward sustainability; three of the six cars are hybrid Honda Insights, and the other three are fuel-efficient Honda Civics.
This new initiative by the Department of Parking & Transportation is a cheap and environmentally friendly alternative to bringing cars to the University. Because Zipcar is open to all students, including first-years and international students, the entire University community is helped by the program. All students can now have access to a car for a comparatively low price for those necessary trips to the grocery store or Target. Zipcar also has great potential to cut down on parking and traffic problems around the University area, and is a more environmentally friendly option than owning your own car. This new program is perfect for those of us who don't have a car but need to run errands outside of the bus routes and feel bad about always mooching rides off of our friends.
Claire Shotwell's column appears Fridays in The Cavalier Daily. She can be reached at c.shotwell@cavalierdaily.com.
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