WPCNR TRAFFIC NEWS. From Zipcar Media Relations. (EDITED) June 27, 2012:
Zipcar, Inc., the world's leading car sharing network announced the expansion of the Zipcar car sharing service into the City of White Plains Tuesday. The new Zipcar program will provide White Plains residents, businesses and visitors with increased access to affordable, convenient transportation options that are proven to reduce congestion and emissions.
The Zipcar program is ready to go for persons holding a ZipCAR Membership Card, launching with eight vehicles in three locations in downtown White Plains:
- White Plains Center Garage at 237 Martine Avenue
- Hamilton-Main Garage at 365 Hamilton Avenue
- Bronx Street Lot at 3 Hamilton Avenue adjacent to the White Plains Train Station
Persons must have a ZipCar Membership ($60 a year, plus non-refundable Application Fee), and need to reserve a car online, via Smartphone or FaceBook. The cars may be rented for as little as $9 an hour in New York and $83 a day. To rent a ZipCar on the weekend, the fees are $14 an hour, and $125 a day.
Billing is handled via the credit card you register with the company when applying for your membership. Since there are no attendants at the ZipCar locations, access is gained by applying your ZipCar Membership Card on a barcode on the windshield of the vehicle. (The is in the vehicle.) Jessica Margolis-Pineo, a spokesperson for ZipCar noted that though the rates are higher than other rental car services, ZipCar pays for all gas, and provides insurance included in the cost of the rental.
Zipcar worked closely with the City of White Plains to determine the best locations for the Zipcars, which will be in areas with heavy foot traffic, access to public transportation and the offering of convenience for area members.
"We're thrilled to welcome Zipcar to the City of White Plains, as another step toward providing alternate transportation options to residents. Zipcar is a convenient and environmentally responsible way to travel and offers residents who live in downtown White Plains an affordable alternative to owning a personal vehicle," said Mayor Thomas Roach.
As an environmentally friendly transportation option, Zipcar will help to reduce White Plains' 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 nearly 40 percent when car owners switch to car sharing.
Zipcar also provides White Plains residents a cost-effective alternative to car ownership. Research firm Frost & Sullivan estimates that car sharing can reduce the total transit costs for its members by 70 percent, and Zipcar members report saving an average of $600 per month compared to owning a car.
"We're excited to be expanding our presence in Westchester County to provide residents and employees of local businesses in White Plains with access to all the convenient, sustainable and cost-effective benefits of car sharing that our members appreciate," said Charlie Irons, Zipcar New York's general manager. "This expansion is an extension of our successful Zipcar program in New York City, where many people depend on Zipcar every day to run errands, attend business meetings, visit friends and take road trips to explore all that the tri-state area has to offer. We hope this new program in White Plains will help residents and those who commute back and forth between New York City to get out and Zip by giving them access to a car without the high costs and hassles of car ownership."
The Zipcar program in White Plains 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. Zipcar for Business helps businesses save money, meet environmental sustainability goals and reduce parking requirements by providing their employees with access to Zipcars for business meetings and more.
Gas, reserved parking spots, insurance, roadside assistance and up to 180 miles per day are included in the hourly and daily Zipcar rates. Cars can be reserved for as short as an hour or for several days. For more information, including how to become a Zipcar member in White Plains, please visit www.zipcar.com.
About Zipcar
Zipcar is the world's leading car-sharing service with more than 700,000 members and 9,000 vehicles in urban areas and college campuses throughout the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Spain. 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. Photos and b-roll footage are available for media purposes at www.zipcar.mediaroom.com.
