In January, 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 UNM students, staff, faculty, and members of the Albuquerque community. The deadline to sign up for a Zipcar membership and get the initial annual fee waived, a savings of $35, is Wednesday, April 30.
"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.”
Five vehicles - three Honda Civics, a Toyota Sienna Minivan, and a MINI Cooper - are located throughout campus and 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.
Members receive their own "prox card," and when they need a vehicle they reserve it from Zipcar 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.
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.
Log onto Zipcar to sign up. Registering does not require any financial commitment from the user. For more information about the Zipcar program contact Parking and Transportation Services at 277-0461.
Media Contact: Benson Hendrix, (505) 277-1816; email: bhendrix@unm.edu