Penn partners with Zipcar for green transit

Students, faculty, staff and alumni will now have another way to zip around the city, thanks to Penn’s sustainable transportation efforts.

Zipcar, which bills itself as the world’s largest car-sharing company, is partnering with Penn to provide access to shared vehicles around campus. Members of the Penn community can use the cars by registering and paying a $35 annual fee — about 40 percent off the standard membership rate.

Penn’s Zipcar program puts it among “dozens of schools” also participating in similar partnerships, Jeremy Nelson, general manager of Zipcar Philadelphia, wrote in an e-mail.

Penn Business Services Director of Sustainability Laurie Cousart said the initiative is part of a “sustainable transportation plan to support [Penn’s] Climate Action Plan.” The University has also partnered with PhillyCarShare, a similar service owned by four Penn alumni, since 2008.

“We’re interested in creating an environment where people can make informed decisions,” Cousart said. University officials anticipate a reduction in carbon emissions and use of petroleum products, as the program operates by sharing a single resource.

Susan Storb, travel administrator for Business Services, said the car-sharing programs are another option for travel in the city after public transportation, biking and walking.

Storb said adding Zipcar as a second car-sharing program was intended to expand the variety of travel options available to the Penn community.

Unlike car-rental companies such as Hertz or Enterprise, which levy extra fees on or do not allow people under 25 to rent cars, students 18 to 20 years old can use cars parked around campus for personal use. Students 21 or older who have an account can use Zipcars around the world. Faculty and staff over 19 can register for business accounts as well.

Ashima Sukhdev, Penn Environmental Group co-director and College junior, said her organization supports car-sharing. “It gets us out of this car-obsessive culture,” she said, adding that car-sharing discourages students from bringing their own vehicles to school. PhillyCarShare recently participated in PEG’s GreenFest, which featured various environmentally friendly vendors in the area.

Hourly rates start at seven dollars an hour, depending on the model of car. Students taking longer trips can pay $65 per day Monday through Friday, or $75 per day on the weekend.

Zipcars are located in more than 50 cities in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom.

Penn users receive free gas, insurance and 180 free miles with each day of use.

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