Schools

Zipcars Now Available on Framingham State Campus

New car-sharing program aims to reduce parking demand by offering convenient, cost-effective and environmentally-friendly alternative to owning a car.

has launched a partnership with Zipcar, Inc., to offer a Zipcar car-sharing program on campus.

The cost-effective and convenient transportation option is now available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to all students, faculty and staff members ages 18 and older, as well as members of the local Framingham community ages 21 and over.

Framingham State University students, faculty, staff and local community members can join today at www.zipcar.com/framingham.

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Framingham State University members pay a $35 annual fee, and rates on all Zipcars start as low as $8 per hour and $66 per day. Gas, insurance, reserved parking spots, up to 180 miles of driving per day and roadside assistance are included in the hourly and daily Zipcar rates. Cars can be reserved for as little as an hour or for multiple days.

"Many of our students have expressed interest in Zipcar’s car-sharing service in the past because the demand for on-campus parking exceeds the supply," said Claire Ostrander, associate director of student involvement and leadership development, Framingham State University in a press release. "Zipcar will be a valuable alternative for many of our students who do not get to keep their cars on campus."

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Framingham State University will offer two vehicles to start, which will be located in the McCarthy Center parking lot.

Zipcars are self service and can be easily reserved and accessed 24 hours a day.

Participating members with smartphones, including iPhones and Android devices, may download the Zipcar mobile applications to make reservations, lock and unlock the vehicles, as well as honk the horn to help locate the vehicle. Reservations can also be made over the phone or by using the Zipcar website.

"It can be difficult and expensive for students to bring cars to campus. Zipcar’s service and technology have been a perfect match for many universities across North America looking to provide students with a cost-effective and convenient alternative to bringing a car to campus," said Mark Norman, Zipcar President and COO in a release. "Zipcar provides a students, faculty and staff with new levels of freedom. Members can use Zipcars to run errands, attend meetings or get away for the weekend on a pay-as-you-go basis."

Zipcar has established partnerships with more than 230 universities, including Harvard University, Boston College and Wellesley College.

For more information, including how to become a member of Zipcar at Framingham State University, visit www.zipcar.com/framingham.

 


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