Increased Demand Leads Arlington County to Expand Car Sharing Program with Zipcar

New Arlington County Survey Shows Car Sharing Program Reduces Car Ownership, Increases Transit Use

ARLINGTON, Va., May 3 -- Zipcar, the nation's largest car sharing service and premier car sharing experience, today announced that it is expanding its joint on-street car sharing program with Arlington County. The expansion comes on the heels of a recent survey conducted by Arlington County of Zipcar members, in which more than 60% of respondents said that they have postponed purchasing a vehicle because they are involved in car sharing, while nearly half stated that they walk and use public transit more often. Arlington County is partnering with Zipcar to add 10 Zipcars at five new on-street locations. In addition, for a limited time, Zipcar is offering $25 in free driving to all Arlington County residents and businesses interested in "kicking the tires" of the service.

The new Zipcars will be located in Crystal City, Pentagon City, Rosslyn, Courthouse and Clarendon, and will include many of the popular makes and models Zipcar offers, such as the energy-efficient gas-electric hybrid Toyota Prius, Volvo S-40 and Convertible MINI Cooper. All Arlington residents and businesses that join Zipcar will also have access to Zipcar's entire fleet of 1500 vehicles located throughout metro Washington D.C., Boston, New York, Minneapolis and San Francisco.

The expansion of the on-street Arlington Carshare Program is a part of Arlington's ongoing initiative to encourage local residents, workers and visitors to use public transportation, walk, or ride bikes whenever possible. Arlington's Carshare Program has proven to be an essential step towards this goal because it provides convenient, affordable car sharing services that promote environmentally conscious driving decisions among members of the community.

"Car sharing continues to grow because it appeals to a diverse group of Arlington's residents, workers and business owners," said Chris Hamilton, Chief, Arlington Commuter Services. "Quite simply, our carshare members use alternative transportation more, save money, and own less cars which reduces traffic and parking impacts making Arlington a better place to live, work and grow."

In a recent survey of Zipcar members conducted by Arlington County, nearly half of respondents agreed or strongly agreed with the statements "I walk more often" and "I use public transportation more often." It also found that nearly 30% of car sharing members sold a privately owned vehicle after joining the service, and on average members drive more than 3,500 miles less each year compared to when they owned their own vehicles. More than 75% of members said that they feel more confident joining car sharing because it is partnered with Arlington County and that they feel more comfortable giving up their privately owned vehicle knowing that car sharing is conveniently located on the streets where they live and work.

"When we started this program two years ago, we knew car sharing could have a dramatic impact on the way people think about car ownership in Arlington County," said Gabe Klein, Regional VP of Zipcar. "These survey statistics clearly demonstrate car sharing is creating important behavioral changes among Arlington residents and businesses resulting in hundreds of vehicles coming off the roads. We look forward to continuing our joint effort to improve life in these local communities."

For more information about this program, visit http://www.zipcar.com/arlington/

About Zipcar: With approximately 55,000 consumer and business drivers nationwide, Zipcar is the country's largest car sharing service. The company currently operates nearly 1,500 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 $7.25 per hour and $51 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/.