U Car Share Launches the Alternative to Car Ownership at Lewis & Clark College

PORTLAND, Ore., April 23 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- U Car Share is expanding its growth in Portland as it partners with Lewis & Clark College by launching the alternative to vehicle ownership with the addition of two car share vehicles. U Car Share allows members access to cars 24/7, thus eliminating the need to own a car or bring one to campus during the school year.  With a unique flexible-rate system, U Car Share members are able to enjoy the benefits of driving without having to worry about overpaying for mileage.  Members pay only for what they use, in one low hourly rate starting at $4.95 per hour (plus $0.49 per mile). U Car Share takes care of fuel, insurance and maintenance costs.  If you drive longer distances, U Car Share also offers rates with 180 free miles, starting at $8.50 per hour, depending on the vehicle.

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Anyone 18 years or older with at least two years of driving experience may qualify to become a member and can then access any car in the country on the U Car Share network.  U Car Share encourages students at Lewis & Clark College to consider using car sharing instead of bringing a car to campus. U Car Share is a convenient alternative that can save thousands of dollars vs. owning a car and having to deal with parking, insurance, fuel and maintenance.

U Car Share vehicles are now positioned for easy access to students, faculty and staff.  U Car Share has contracted with Lewis & Clark College for two car share vehicles: a Honda Insight Hybrid and low-emission Ford Focus.  Currently there are two PT Cruisers parked in highly visible reserved parking near the Templeton Student Center. These will be replaced soon with the Honda Insight Hybrid and the Ford Focus.

"We are so excited to add Lewis & Clark College to our network of colleges in Portland," exclaimed Dave Schaefer, president, U-Haul Company of Portland. "With two car share vehicles already adjacent to Portland State University and several more around downtown Portland, we feel the members at Lewis & Clark will be able to take care of all their driving needs while on and off campus. Lewis & Clark College has really embraced this program," he continued. "In the first few days of operation, several reservations have been made."

For a limited time, membership is free for all students, faculty and staff (a $25 value). Log on to ucarshare.com today and enter promotion code LCCPR when signing up. (This promo code will expire on May 31, 2010.)

Students, faculty and staff will be able to access the vehicle with a U Car Share membership card.  They will be able to log on to ucarshare.com at any time and reserve any vehicle of their choice on the U Car Share network.  Members can reserve cars for as little as an hour at any time of day.  Gas and insurance are all included in one low hourly rate starting at $4.95 per hour ($0.59 per mile).  Daily and hourly rates with included miles are available, as well.  

Car sharing meets the needs of any individual who needs a car occasionally, while being sensitive to the surrounding community and environment.  Car sharing reduces the demand for parking and results in greater sustainability while enabling individuals to retain their mobility.

Research shows that car sharing is great for the environment. Every shared car on the road can replace up to 15 personally owned vehicles. This means that fewer cars will need to be manufactured, fewer cars will be on the road and the community's carbon footprint will be reduced. Car sharing is fast becoming a critical element of the transportation network in many cities and universities, enabling residents, students and businesses to get rid of their cars while still meeting their transportation needs.  

U Car Share is committed to the community and will work with Lewis & Clark College to see that the program is successful.  U Car Share is very excited to be on campus at Lewis & Clark College and looks forward to the growth of car sharing.

U Car Share is also available in: Portland, Maine; Madison, Wis.; Berkeley, Calif.; Portland, Ore.; Regis College, Assumption College, Linfield College and Virginia Tech. More sites will be coming soon.

For more information about U Car Share, log on to ucarshare.com or call 1-877-990-8227.

About U-Haul

Since 1945, U-Haul has been the best choice for the do-it-yourself mover, with a network of more than 15,800 locations in all 50 United States and 10 Canadian provinces. U-Haul customers' patronage has enabled the U-Haul fleet to grow to approximately 101,000 trucks, 76,000 trailers and 34,000 towing devices. U-Haul offers more than 395,000 rooms and approximately 35 million square feet of storage space at nearly 1,090 owned and managed facilities throughout North America. U-Haul is the consumer's number one choice as the largest installer of permanent trailer hitches in the automotive aftermarket industry. U-Haul supplies alternative-fuel for vehicles and backyard barbecues as one of the nation's largest retailers of propane.

U-Haul was founded by a Navy veteran who grew up in the Great Depression. Tires and gas were still rationed or in short supply during the late 1940s when U-Haul began serving U.S. customers. Today, that background is central to the U-Haul Sustainability Program: "Serving the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs."  Our commitment to reduce, reuse and recycle includes fuel efficient moving vans, neighborhood proximity, moving box reuse, moving pads made from discarded material and packing peanuts that are 100 percent biodegradable.  Learn more about these facts and others at www.uhaul.com/sustainability.

SOURCE U-Haul