Zipcar Introduces Car Sharing Program in Collingswood, NJ

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Sept. 29, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Zipcar, Inc. (Nasdaq: ZIP), the world's leading car sharing network, and the Borough of Collingswood, today announced Zipcar's expansion into Collingswood, New Jersey, located just 10 minutes outside of Philadelphia.  Zipcar is the first car sharing program available in South Jersey, and will provide residents, local businesses and visitors with increased access to affordable, convenient transportation options that are proven to reduce congestion and emissions.  

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110929/NE77318-a )

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110929/NE77318-b )

The program is launching with two vehicles, including a Honda CR-V and Nissan Sentra, both of which will have reserved parking spots within walking distance of Collingswood's PATCO Speedline station.  Zipcars will be located on-street at the intersection of Haddon and Collings Avenues as well as the parking garage of the LumberYard Condos.

Zipcar and Collingswood worked closely together to determine locations for the cars in areas with heavy foot traffic and access to public transportation, to offer high levels of convenience for area members.  The program is available to local residents and visitors, as well as to employees of local businesses through the company's 'Zipcar for Business' program that offers discounted driving Monday through Friday.

"We've had requests for car sharing for some time now and we're excited to bring this to residents and visitors," said Collingswood Mayor James Maley. "Zipcar is a natural fit here.  Collingswood is all about walkability and this serves residents looking to scale back."

Zipcar joins Collingswood's long list of eco-friendly initiatives including a bike share program, a yearly green festival, an all inclusive recycling program and being state designated as a Transit Village, which encourages "…attractive, vibrant, pedestrian-friendly neighborhoods where people can live, shop, work and play without relying on automobiles," according to the NJDOT.

As an environmentally friendly transportation option, Zipcar will help to reduce Collingswood's carbon footprint.  National studies have shown that each car shared takes 15 privately owned vehicles off the road, and that vehicle miles traveled per driver is reduced almost 50 percent when car owners switch to car sharing.  

"Collingswood is highly regarded as a walkable and pedestrian-friendly community, and we're very excited to offer its residents a new convenient, flexible and cost-effective alternative for getting around town," said Peter Bruvik, general manager, Zipcar Philadelphia.  "We're thrilled to have a presence in South Jersey, and we believe this program will be a complement to many of the other area neighborhoods around Philadelphia where we have recently introduced car sharing, including West Oak Lane, Mt. Airy, Germantown, Manayunk and Fern Rock."

Gas, reserved parking spots, insurance, roadside assistance and up to 180 miles of driving per day are included in the hourly and daily Zipcar rates.  Cars can be reserved for as short as an hour or for multiple days.  Rates on all vehicles start as low $7.50 per hour and $69 per day (24 hours).

For more information, including how to become a Zipcar member in Collingswood, please visit: www.zipcar.com.

About Collingswood

Collingswood is a historic NJ town 10 minutes outside Philadelphia. Known for its eclectic downtown and BYO restaurant scene it has taken home national recognition including being named a Top 10 Transformed Neighborhood by Forbes, the Best Place to Go Car Free by Men's Journal magazine, a Classic Town of Greater Philadelphia by the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission and a Great Place in America (Haddon Avenue) by the American Planning Association.

About Zipcar

Zipcar is the world's leading car sharing network with more than 605,000 members and over 9,000 vehicles 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. More information is available at www.zipcar.com.  Zipcar and the Zipcar logo are trademarks of Zipcar, Inc.

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SOURCE Zipcar, Inc.