Expanded car-share options roll onto campus

In a move to further sustainability and provide more options at CU Boulder, Parking and Transportation Services has partnered with Boston-based Zipcar to increase car-sharing on campus.

Through the partnership, 10 Zipcar vehicles are available on campus (two that are all-wheel-drive and outfitted with ski and bike racks) for students, faculty, staff and departments to reserve by the hour or day. The program for the CU Boulder community includes discounted membership pricing and one-way trips and other features unique to the university.

“CU Boulder is happy to double the number of car-share vehicles on campus, provide greater access to car-sharing and offer another transportation option for those who bus, bike or walk to campus but require a vehicle during the day,” said David Cook, senior transportation demand manager.

For the CU Boulder community, there is a discounted membership fee of $15 the first year and $25 per year thereafter, compared with about $70 per year for the public. The hourly fee starts at $7.50, a discounted price. There also is a lower age requirement, 18, for Zipcar’s CU Boulder members (compared with 21 for non-CU Boulder affiliates).

CU Boulder’s agreement with Zipcar offers flexible service, which allows members to take one-way trips. Members may reserve cars from campus and leave them at a variety of locations throughout the area, including in Denver at the Denver International Airport and at CU Anschutz.

Alfred Flores, associate director for apartment life and intercultural engagement, said car-sharing is particularly useful for the global population that lives in graduate and family housing, “which represents about 70 countries.”

“The ability to provide this type of transportation is a huge value proposition that not only helps students, researchers and families – many of whom arrive on campus without a car – but it also helps us reach our institutional sustainability goals,” said Flores.

CU Boulder aims to reduce campus greenhouse gas emissions 20 percent by 2020, based on a 2005 baseline, among other goals.

The marked Zipcars are available throughout campus parking lots, including in lot 204, near the University Memorial Center, at Euclid Avenue and 18th Street; lot 406 along Kittredge Loop Road; and in lot 622 north of Williams Village, among others.

Prospective members can join via the Zipcar app in minutes, then use the app to reserve, unlock and lock the Zipcars. Alternatively, people can join on the Zipcar website; they will then receive their “Zipcard” in the mail, which gives access to the Zipcars. The keys are in the ignition; and insurance, gas and up to 180 miles of driving per day are included.

“We’re excited to team up with CU Boulder to bring Zipcar’s convenient, on-demand transportation service to campus,” said Katelyn Bushey, Zipcar director of university programs. “Zipcar offers all the benefits of owning a car without the hassles that come along with it, like circling for a parking spot before class, paying for gas or worrying about oil changes.”

Additional CU campuses, including the Denver and Anschutz campuses, offer car-sharing through Zipcar as well.

CU Boulder also partners with eGo CarShare, which provides 10 cars on campus, 18 more in Boulder, two in Longmont and 16 in Denver.