California State University (CSU), Dominguez Hills launched a new partnership with Zipcar, the world’s leading car sharing network, to offer a Zipcar car sharing program on campus. The transportation option is now available 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.
CSU Dominguez Hills will initially offer two vehicles, a Ford Focus and a Toyota Prius. The Zipcars will have designated parking spots located in Parking Lot 3 near the Tamcliff entrance to campus for convenient pick-up and return.
This year, CSU Dominguez Hills Zipcar 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, 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. CSU Dominguez Hills students, faculty and staff can join Zipcar.
“CSU Dominguez Hills strives to offer a number of alternative transportation options to help our students, faculty and staff change the way they commute, and in the process, ease their transportation costs, reduce traffic congestion and contribute to improving the region’s overall air quality,” said Robert Fenning, vice president of administration and finance at CSU Dominguez Hills. “The addition of Zipcar will complement our existing rideshare program and provide added convenience for our employees and students who commute to campus by public transit, vanpool or carpool.”
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. Reservations can also be made over the phone or on Zipcar’s website.
“The Zipcar program on campus gives students, faculty and staff the freedom of using a car without the hassles of owning one,” said Katelyn Bushey, Zipcar director of university sales. “We’re happy to partner with CSU Dominguez Hills to give their community a transportation option to fit their needs and their wallet.”
With the new Zipcar program available on campus, student organizations at CSU Dominguez Hills 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 Zipcar membership and driving credit to support student organizations on campus.
Through the Students with Drive grant program, Ford and Zipcar will provide $200,000 in grants to be awarded to student organizations at eligible Zipcar colleges and universities. The program is running now through April 2016 and will culminate with a grand prize worth $25,000 in scholarships, cash, and Zipcar driving. For more information and to participate in the program, students can visit www.zipcar.com/studentswithdrive.
Zipcar has established relationships with more than 400 universities across North America.
