OSU-Cascades provides Zipcars for car-sharing option

A new partnership with Zipcar, the world’s leading car sharing network, provides an additional transportation option for students and employees of Oregon State University – Cascades. Included in the partnership are two Zipcar vehicles located on the new OSU-Cascades campus for convenient pick up and return.

The Zipcar vehicles are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week for students, faculty and staff age 18 and older, as well as members of the local community over the age of 21.

OSU-Cascades will initially offer two vehicles, a Ford Focus named “Freefall” and a Ford Escape named “Equinox.” The Zipcars are located in designated parking spots in the on-campus lot for convenient pick-up and return.

Casey Bergh, transportation program manager at OSU-Cascades, said car sharing can encourage employees and students to explore alternative transportation to and from the new university campus.

“Many of our students and employees are planning to commute by bus or bike, or walking,” Bergh said. “The Zipcar option allows them flexibility to get to off-campus meetings and even run personal errands in the middle of the day.”

This year, OSU-Cascades members can join for $15, with rates for Zipcar vehicles on campus starting at $7.50 per hour and $69 per day. After the first year, student and employee members will pay an annual membership fee of $25.

Gas, insurance 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.

Rates are higher for community members and can be found on www.zipcar.com.

Denali Emmons, a first-year student from Hood River, came to OSU-Cascades without a car.

“Bend has created an amazing transportation system for students without their own vehicles,” Emmons said. “Not only do we have the options of riding the CET bus system for free, or riding bikes, but we now have the option of using a Zipcar vehicle. It is nice to know that my friends and I can check out a car for a low price, and use it to drive anywhere.”

Members with iPhones and Android devices can 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.

“We share OSU-Cascades’ vision of more sustainable transportation on campus,” said Katelyn Bushey, director of university programs of Zipcar. “The introduction of a car-sharing program gives students and employees the freedom to get around without bringing a car to campus, which frees up valuable space and reduces carbon emissions.”

Zipcar has established relationships with more than 500 universities across North America. Additional information and promotions can be found by following @Zipcar on Twitter.