The range of sustainable transport options at Yale recently increased with the introduction of the Zipcar car-sharing program on campus. Car-sharing provides students, faculty, and staff with an environmentally friendly and convenient alternative to car ownership and driving to campus. Zipcar, the world’s largest car-sharing company, has partnered with Yale to make six fuel efficient cars—including three Toyota Prius hybrids—available for use 24 hours a days/7 days a week at five locations around the University.

Self-service Zipcars are an excellent compliment to other green means of getting around. Participants can walk, bicycle, carpool, vanpool, or take a train or bus to campus and still have access to a car if needed. Holly Parker, Director of Sustainable Transportation Systems at Yale, says that “Zipcar is one piece of the transportation puzzle. It supports people who come to campus by means other than driving and helps break down the barriers to alternative transport.” Students will be big winners, as their mobility will increase without the costs and hassles of bringing a car to campus.

Zipcar's introduction is just one part of Yale’s commitment to increase sustainable transport options for the university community and decrease greenhouse gas emissions. Reaching the university’s commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 10% below 1990 levels by 2020 will require a range of alternative transport options. Zipcar also helps keep down the demand for new parking lots and garages, which are expensive to build and often compete with green space. 

All faculty, staff, and students over 18 (over 21 for those with a valid foreign driver’s license) are eligible to join Zipcar. Cars can be reserved online up to a year in advance and for up to four days at a time. Membership costs just $35 per year (refundable through a credit towards your driving costs if you reserve a car within the first month of membership). Car rental, which includes gas, maintenance, and insurance, costs $8.50 per hour or $65 per day.

For those considering Zipcar, it helps to compare its costs with the full cost of car ownership. The American Automobile Association (AAA) estimates that the average U.S. driver spends $7,875 to drive 15,000 miles per year, including fuel, maintenance, and insurance, which are all included in the Zipcar’s hourly rate. You would have to drive a Zipcar over 900 hours per year or 2.5 hours per day to spend this much!

To learn more about Zipcar at Yale, or to sign up, visit:

http://www.zipcar.com/yale/.

For information on calculating the cost of driving, see AAA’s 2007 Your Driving Costs brochure, available at:

www.aaaexchange.com/Assets/Files/20073261133460.YourDrivingCosts2007.pdf