The University of New Mexico Department of Parking and Transportation Services (PATS) announced an agreement with Zipcar, a national car-sharing service, to provide vehicles to students, staff, faculty and members of the Albuquerque community.
Zipcars will be available at the University of New Mexico for those students, staff, faculty and members of the Albuquerque community who are members of Zipcar. Zipcar is a vehicle sharing service available nationwide.
Representative of Zipcar were on campus recently with more information and to sign interested people up for the program. As a special promotion, the $35 sign up fee will be waived for anyone who joins during the next 90-days. All members 21+ will also have access to Zipcar's network of more than 5,500 vehicles throughout the UK and North America.
"Anyone who bikes or rides the bus to UNM can benefit from this new program," UNM PATS Director Clovis Acosta said. "Faculty and staff who use alternative transportation don't have to drive to UNM anymore if they have an appointment off campus. All they need to do is visit the Parking Department offices and check out a Zipcar for the afternoon."
Members receive their own "prox card," and when they need a vehicle they reserve it either online or by phone. The vehicles are available at an hourly or daily rate which includes gas, vehicle insurance, maintenance, 24/7 roadside assistance and 24/7 customer support, if necessary.
Five vehicles - three Honda Civics, a Toyota Sienna Minivan, and a MINI Cooper - will be located throughout campus available for use 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you're 18 or older, you're eligible to be a member. Hourly rates start at $9 and include gas, insurance and 180 free miles.
Among the dozens of colleges that have partnered with Zipcar include MIT, Columbia, Georgetown, Ohio State, Arizona State University, American University, Harvard University, University of Minnesota, University of
Toronto, University of North Carolina and The University of Chicago.
For more information about the Zipcar program contact Parking and Transportation Services at 277-1938.
Media Contact: Benson Hendrix, (505) 277-1816; e-mail: bhendrix@unm.edu