(Ashland, Ore.) — Southern Oregon University (SOU) has launched a new partnership with Zipcar, the world’s leading car sharing network, to offer a Zipcar car sharing program on campus. The convenient transportation option is now available at an affordable rate 24 hours a day, seven days a week for students, faculty, and staff ages 18 and older, as well as members of the local community ages 21 and over.
SOU will initially offer two vehicles, a Ford Focus and a Hyundai Elantra. The Zipcars will have designated parking spots located in a campus lot near Raider Village for convenient pick-up and return.
This year, SOU members can join for $15, 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 $25. 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. SOU students, faculty, staff, and community members can join Zipcar at www.zipcar.com/sou.
“We are very pleased to be able to offer Zipcar service to our campus and community through this partnership. A lot of students—particularly those living on campus—leave their cars at home when they come to SOU and this ensures that they will have convenient access to transportation,” said Craig Morris, SOU’s vice president of administration and finance. “Our staff members in Campus Public Safety and Parking worked hard to bring this idea to fruition and it’s great to see the service available on campus.”
Participating members with smartphones, including iPhones and Android devices, 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 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 Southern Oregon University to give their community a transportation option to fit their needs and their wallet.”
With the new Zipcar program available on campus, student organizations at SOU 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 is running 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 SOU, please visit www.zipcar.com/sou. Additional information and promotions can also be found by following @ZipcarU on Twitter.
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About Southern Oregon University
Southern Oregon University is a medium-sized campus that provides comprehensive educational opportunities with a strong focus on student success and intellectual creativity. Located in vibrant Ashland, Oregon, SOU remains committed to diversity and inclusion for all students on its environmentally sustainable campus. Connected learning programs taught by a host of exceptional faculty provide quality, innovative experiences for students. Visit sou.edu.
About Zipcar
Zipcar, the world’s leading car sharing network, has operations in urban areas and college campuses throughout Austria, Canada, France, Spain, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States. Zipcar offers more than 50 makes and models of self-service vehicles by the hour or day to residents and businesses looking for smart, simple and convenient solutions to their urban and campus transportation needs. Zipcar is a subsidiary of Avis Budget Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: CAR), a global leader in vehicle rental services. More information is available at www.zipcar.com.