PRINCESS ANNE, MD — (Sept. 3, 2015) – The University of Maryland Eastern Shore today launched a new partnership with Zipcar to offer a car sharing program on campus. The transportation option is now available around the clock for students, faculty, and staff ages 18 and older, as well as members of the community age 21 and over.
UMES will initially offer two vehicles, a Ford Focus and a Ford Cmax. The Zipcars will have designated parking spots in a campus lot adjacent to the Student Service Center for convenient pick-up and return.
This year, UMES members can join for $25, with rates for Zipcar vehicles on campus starting as low as $7.50 per hour and $69 per day. After the first year, members will pay an annual membership fee of $35. Gas, insurance, and up to 180 miles of driving per day are included in Zipcar rates and cars can be reserved for as little as an hour or for multiple days. UMES students, faculty and staff can join Zipcar at www.zipcar.com/UMES.
Participating members with smartphones may download the Zipcar mobile application to make reservations, lock and unlock the vehicles and honk the horn to help locate the vehicle. Reservations can also be made over the phone (1-866-494-7227) or on Zipcar’s website.
“The Zipcar program on campus gives students, faculty and staff the freedom of using a car without the hassles of owning one,” said Katelyn Bushey, Zipcar director of university sales. “We’re happy to partner with the University of Maryland Eastern Shores to give their community a transportation option to fit their needs and their wallet.”
Student organizations at UMES also now have the opportunity to participate in the “Students with Drive” grant program sponsored by Zipcar and Ford Motor Company, which provides students with Zipcar membership and driving credit to support student organizations on campus.
Through the Students with Drive grant program, Ford and Zipcar will provide $200,000 in grants to be awarded to student organizations at eligible Zipcar colleges and universities. The program runs now through April 2016 and will culminate with a grand prize worth $25,000 in scholarships, cash, and Zipcar driving. For more information and to participate in the program, students can visit www.zipcar.com/studentswithdrive.
Zipcar has established relationships with more than 400 universities across North America. For more information and how to become a member of Zipcar at UMES, please visit www.zipcar.com/UMES. Additional information and promotions can also be found by following @ZipcarU on Twitter.
