Local schools partner with Zipcar

Zipcar, the Cambridge-based car-sharing service that rents vehicles by the hour or the day, today announced a joint partnership to provide Zipcars on the campuses of several Massachusetts schools

The schools include Brandeis University, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, and Worcester Polytechnic Institute, said Zipcar, which added that the partnerships with the schools brings its operations to more than 50 cities, including London, and 28 North American states and provinces.

Zipcar said in a press release: "Beginning today, a total of six self-service Zipcars – two at each school – will be available for use 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The cars will be available to all staff and students aged 18+, with gas, maintenance, insurance, and reserved parking included in low hourly and daily rates."

Zipcar added that it has also partnered with Endicott College.

Because of the high costs of car ownership and the meager budgets of many college students, Zipcar regards college campuses as fertile ground for its car-sharing service.

"Among the dozens of schools that have partnered with Zipcar to reduce traffic, noise, and parking demands are MIT, Columbia, Georgetown, American University, Harvard University, University of Minnesota, University of Toronto, University of North Carolina, and the University of Chicago," Zipcar said in its press release.

Zipcar has achieved enough success that now many traditional rent-a-car companies are thinking about aping its car-sharing business model as an added service. For a recent Boston.com post that references Zipcar, please click here.
(By Chris Reidy, Globe staff)