Zipcar Announces Annual Low-Car Diet 'Call For Participants'

Month-Long Program Gives Urban Residents the Opportunity to Experience the Economic, Environmental and Health Benefits of a Low-Car Lifestyle

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., June 24 -- Zipcar, the world's largest car-sharing service, is calling on urban residents to apply for the 2009 Low-Car Diet. Beginning July 15, participants from all 13 Zipcar cities in the United States, Canada and London, England will pledge to give up their personally owned car for one month. Instead, they will bike, walk, utilize public transportation and be given a Zipcar membership.

In the midst of a challenging economy, the Low-Car Diet gives people the opportunity to test drive a low-car and less expensive lifestyle. The program gives participants the experience of living without a car and the associated economic, environmental and health benefits.

According to a recent survey, the average American household owns two cars and spends 19 percent of income on vehicle-related expenses*. Conversely, upon joining Zipcar, 65 percent of members report selling an existing car or delaying the purchase of a new one. As a result, Zipcar members spend just 6 percent of their income on transportation-related costs, a significant savings at a time when people everywhere are looking to cut costs.

"Smart consumption -- including the ability to use something without owning it -- is at the heart of Zipcar capitalism," said Scott Griffith, chairman and CEO of Zipcar. "We encourage people to take part in this year's Low-Car Diet challenge and experience our vision of more car sharers than car owners in cities around the globe."

Several national sponsors and editorial partners generously are supporting this year's Low-Car Diet in intelligent and impactful ways, including:

  --  Montague Corporation - the world leader in full size folding bikes is
      providing one lucky Low-Car Diet participant in each Zipcar city with
      a SwissBike TX to fill the gaps between public transit and Zipcar
      (SwissBike.com). Montague's folding bicycles can easily compact to fit
      in the trunk of a Zipcar, allowing users to seamlessly transition in
      and out of urban life as needed.
  --  HealthCentral - will provide fitness experts at local Low-Car Diet
      events to consult with participants about exercise programs, will
      donate Fast and Fit books by Ellen Haas, and will provide healthy
      recipes to all participants. (HealthCentral.com)
  --  EverydayHealth - will encourage readers to participate with
      interactive polls and blog about their experiences on the Everyday
      Health Low-Car Diet blog. Senior staff also will participate in and
      blog about launch events. (EverydayHealth.com)

Last year's Low-Car Diet demonstrated that having a taste of a low-car lifestyle can lead to permanent car shedding. Fifty-eight percent of 2008 participants stated that they planned to continue to live without a personally owned car, and another 31 percent considered the same commitment. During the month-long program, participants also reduced vehicle miles traveled by 100,000 miles, saved 4,000 gallons of fuel (preventing more than 75,000 pounds of carbon emissions), lost weight due to increased walking and biking and saved significantly on their transportation costs.