Last Updated on January 29, 2012 1:04 pm
(From ASU News Bureau)
UHaulCarShare and Appalachian State University have teamed up to provide access to North America’s most advanced car-sharing service. Through the partnership, students, faculty and staff will have transportation options allowing them to maintain a sustainable lifestyle in one cost-effective, convenient package.
Green transportation options have been expanded at Appalachian State University through UHaulCarShare, a car-sharing service, and Zimride, a ride-sharing service. Faculty, staff and students can rent by the hour or day a fuel-efficient compact car or a hybrid vehicle located at the Legend’s parking lot on campus. Through Zimride, a ride-sharing social network, employees and students can share commutes or one-time rides. (Photos by Jane Nicholson)
Three vehicles parked in the Legends parking lot on campus (one Ford Focus and two Toyota Prius Hybrids), are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week for rent to drivers 18 years of age and older who meet UHaulCarShare’s safe driver requirements. Rental rates are as low as $4.95 per hour (plus 49 cents per mile), $8.50 per hour with 180 free miles, or a flat rate of $60 a day. A membership is required to participate in the rental program.
Gas, insurance, maintenance, reserved parking spots and 24/7 roadside assistance are included in the hourly and daily rates. Cars can be reserved for as little as an hour or as long as six days.
In addition to UHaulCarShare, the university offers ridesharing through Zimride, a ridesharing social network that helps people share commutes or one-time rides. The service, available at http://zimride.appstate.edu, is supported by Appalachian’s Parking and Traffic Office. The system requires an AppalNet user name to gain access
“Car sharing and ridesharing greatly enhance the flexibility of Appalachian’s sustainable transportation initiatives,” said Ged Moody, director of university sustainability. “Together, this program will help us achieve our goals of limiting vehicle traffic on campus, eliminating the need for more parking structures, and reducing the environmental footprint of the university. As educators, it is our hope that adoption of these services will help teach our entire community about sustainable transportation systems and lead to a reduced dependence on personal automobiles.”
Each shared car is estimated to take 15-20 personally owned vehicles off the road, reduce parking congestion and improve air quality.
UHaulCarShare is a subsidiary of U-Haul, the do-it-yourself moving company founded in 1945.
“The environmental benefits are nearly endless,” said Cassandra Allen, UHaulCarShare program manager. “But, the lifestyle change is where the greatest potential lies because of the lasting effect we can have on an individual’s routine behavior. By car sharing, individuals eliminate the need to own a car, without giving up the flexibility a car provides. Getting a car on the go is now possible, and we are making it even easier to do so with our new smartphone app and mobile website that will be available soon.”
For a limited time, new members can sign up with their Appalachian State University email address at a discount, join for $15 and get $25 in driving credit. Log on to ucarshare.com and enter promotion code “Yosef” at the time of application. The promotional code will expire on April 15.
In addition to UHaulCarShare and Zimride, other alternative transportation options are available for the university community. Appalachian is a partner with AppalCART, a free bus service with in-town routes. Coach America provides bus transportation from Boone to Charlotte, or Boone to Greensboro, with stops in between, for a nominal fee for students with a university ID.
