Salem State University Partners with Zipcar to Offer Green Transportation Option

SALEM, Mass., Sept. 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Salem State University launched a new partnership with Zipcar Inc., providing the campus with access to the world's leading car-sharing service. 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.  With every Zipcar taking 15 to 20 privately owned vehicles off the road, Zipcar is an environmentally friendly alternative that supports Salem State's efforts to improve campus sustainability.

Zipcar makes freedom, cost savings and helping the environment extremely easy for Salem State. Gas, 180 miles per day, insurance, reserved parking spots and roadside assistance are included in the hourly and daily Zipcar rates.  Cars can be reserved for as short as an hour or for up to four days. Rates on all Salem State vehicles start as low as $7 per hour and $69 per day.

"Having Zipcar on campus provides a wonderful service to our students and other community members by encouraging a more efficient use of green resources while at the same time, providing an easy to use, high quality, transportation option," said James Stoll, Dean of Students at Salem State. "This will be particularly helpful to our growing residential population who are engaged in internships, experiential learning and community service."

"Being able to increase travel offerings for our students so they can see all of what the area has to offer is a wonderful benefit," continued Stoll. "Having Zipcar on campus also provides a wonderful service to our community by encouraging a more efficient use of green resources while at the same time, providing an easy to use, high quality, transportation option."

The Salem State community, which consists of more than 10,000 students and 1,100 faculty and staff members, will receive a discounted annual membership rate of $25, half the regular rate.  Zipcar is also waiving the $25 application fee for the college's students, faculty and staff.  

Zipcar's presence at Salem State will expand the car-sharing company's presence in the area.  Two Zipcars will be parked in Central Campus on Loring Avenue near the Police Station.  Students can download Zipcar's fun and functional iPhone app that will honk the horn to locate a Zipcar and unlock the doors.

"Our proven, car sharing service and technology has been a perfect match for many universities across the North American and the UK looking to provide a cost effective and convenient alternative to bringing a car to campus," said Dan Curtin, General Manager, Zipcar Boston.  "The service provides a new level of freedom for students, faculty and staff.  Members can use Zipcars to run errands, attend meetings or get away for the weekend but on a pay-as-you-go basis. You no longer need to own a car to be free." 

Zipcar has established partnerships with more than 200 universities, including Harvard University, MIT, Endicott College in Beverly, Brandies University in Waltham and Wellesley College.  

For more information, including how to enroll in Zipcar at Salem State, please visit: www.zipcar.com/salemstate

About Zipcar

Zipcar operates in urban areas and college campuses throughout the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. Zipcar offers more than 30 makes and models of self-service vehicles by the hour or day to residents and businesses looking for an alternative to the high costs and hassles of owning a car.

About Salem State University

Salem State University, established in 1854, is a comprehensive, publicly supported institution of higher learning located approximately 15 miles north of Boston, Massachusetts. The university enrolls over 10,000 undergraduate and graduate students representing 27 states and 65 nations, and is one of the largest state universities in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Zipcar and the Zipcar logo are trademarks of Zipcar, Inc. Other company and product names may be trademarks of their respective owners.

SOURCE Zipcar