Zipcar and DDOT Commit to Bring Car Sharing's Environmental and Community Benefits to More Local Neighborhoods

WMATA and Arlington County also extend programs with DC's largest car sharing service to improve urban transportation and parking

WASHINGTON, March 21 -- Following a year of explosive membership growth, Zipcar, consistently recognized for offering the leading car sharing experience, today applauded the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) announcement that the District is expanding the number of parking spaces designated for car sharing programs to alleviate traffic and parking challenges in additional communities throughout Metro DC. With the expansion, Zipcar and DDOT will provide unprecedented benefits to the 37% of District households that don't own a vehicle, while bringing car sharing to lower-income neighborhoods where the relative cost of car ownership is high. The announcement comes on the heels of recent contract extensions by The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) and Arlington County, with plans to significantly expand their existing car sharing programs and deliver the environmental and community benefits of car sharing to more residents and drivers who live and work throughout the region.

Zipcar, the largest car sharing service in Metro DC and North America, realized over 100% growth in new resident and business membership in 2005. DDOT will leverage Zipcar's growing fleet of vehicles and membership base to provide broader access to car sharing throughout the District, including low-income neighborhoods in Wards 7 and 8 and the Downtown area, where traffic and parking problems continue to escalate along with the relative cost of car ownership. DDOT will now designate 43 on-street locations for Zipcar members and residents to share throughout the District.

"Car sharing meets many of DDOT's goals: it reduces traffic congestion, air pollution and demand for parking, while meeting the increasing demand for alternative forms of transportation," said Michelle Pourciau, Acting Director of the Department of Transportation. "Expanding the program allows us to bring transportation alternatives to more residents, while proactively using a proven solution to help with our growing parking and traffic challenges."

Based on data from over 12,000 active members in Metro DC, Zipcar estimates that over 4,500 vehicles have already been removed from the region due to the adoption of Zipcar. Currently, in the Washington Metro area, each Zipcar serves over 40 members and takes over 20 private automobiles off the road, freeing parking for those that need it. With some District neighborhoods already experiencing nearly 10% adoption of the car sharing service in 2005, local neighborhoods are realizing significant infrastructure savings while providing residents and businesses with more parking options as fewer privately-owned vehicles vie for limited parking resources.

Arlington County and WMATA both recently teamed with Zipcar to help alleviate parking and traffic problems. Arlington County began a pilot program in 2004, and, due to its success, last year expanded the program to make car sharing a permanent transportation initiative with 27 active Zipcar locations and rapid expansion planned for 2006.

"As a result of our pilot program, the superior Zipcar membership experience and the installation of the highly visible on-street Zipcars, over 4,000 residents and businesses have signed with Zipcar, resulting in lower car ownership, a lower car-to-parking space ratio and increased use of transportation options such as transit, biking and walking. It has been so successful that car sharing is now a permanent part of our transportation landscape," said Chris Hamilton of Arlington County Transportation. "We are very proud that our program has made such positive change in our community, and applaud DDOT for making its commitment to its residents and business in the District."

WMATA's car sharing partnership, which also grew dramatically over the last 12 months, demonstrated an impact on urban transportation in the District, with 69% of respondents to a recent joint survey stating that although they owned a car when they joined Zipcar, they have since sold or considered selling their vehicle. In addition, nearly 30% of survey respondents said they combined the use of Zipcar and Metro when making trips and 23% said they used Metro more as a result of joining Zipcar.

"Zipcar and Metro share a common goal to provide transportation options to our riders and encourage more people to use public transportation and car sharing," said Nat Bottigheimer, Director of Business Planning and Project Development for Metro. "We are very pleased with the Metro car sharing program and recent survey results that show increased ridership and reduced car ownership rates among our riders who participate in the program."

Zipcar currently operates more than 260 cars throughout the Metropolitan area, 130 of which were added in the last 12 months. These vehicles include hybrids, SUV's, convertibles and standard sedans that residents and businesses want to drive. In addition to its ongoing partnerships with DDOT, WMATA, and Arlington County, Zipcar also works with local non-profits including The Coalition for Smarter Growth, The MS Society, and The DC Central Kitchen, as well as leading local universities, including George Washington University, Georgetown, American, Howard and Catholic.

About Zipcar

With approximately 50,000 consumer and business drivers nationwide, Zipcar is the country's largest car sharing service. The company currently operates more than 1,000 vehicles in ten states, including metropolitan New York, Boston, San Francisco, Minneapolis and Washington, DC. With Zipcar's technology, accessing and using a Zipcar is as easy as getting cash from an ATM. In minutes or up to a year in advance, members can reserve Zipcars online or by phone, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Zipcar members have automated access to Zipcars using a "Zipcard" to simply unlock the door and drive away. Rates start as low as $7.50 per hour and $53 per day, with gas, parking, insurance and XM Satellite Radio service included. Special business rates are also available for small to large-sized companies looking for a more convenient and cost-effective way of providing transportation for their employees. For more information, visit http://www.zipcar.com/.