Thirty Portlanders to Quit Cars for One Month and Jump Start a Low-Car Diet

Mayor Sam Adams to Join Portland Residents in the Month-Long Challenge **Photo Opportunity / Live Interviews**

PORTLAND, Ore., July 9 -- Zipcar, the world's largest car sharing service, is giving 30 Portland residents the opportunity to test drive a low-car and less-expensive lifestyle as part of its second annual Low-Car Diet.

In the midst of a challenging economy, rising gas prices and a nation-wide focus on cutting costs, the program gives participants the opportunity to experience the economic, environmental and health benefits of a car-free lifestyle. The Low-Car Diet will help participants realize that living without a car may be easier than they think. It will also provide a means to keep more of their paycheck while becoming more active and improving their health.

In Portland, the Low-Car Diet will begin with a kick-off event on July 15th. Event details include:

  When:        July 15th, at 1 p.m. PDT; event will last approximately 45
               minutes

  Where:       City Hall (1221 SW 4th Ave., Portland, OR 97204)

  Who:         Thirty Portland residents, including Mayor Sam Adams and
               Scott Brinker, will attend and participate in the Low-Car
               Diet

  Speakers:    Ted Wheeler, County Commissioner (Keynote)
               Drew Blevins, Director of Marketing for TriMet
               Lillian Shirley, Health Department Director
               Scott Bricker, Director of the Bicycle Transportation
               Alliance
               Sonja Biorn-Hansen, 2008 Low-Car Diet participant and DEQ
               Environmental Engineer
               Bill Scott, Zipcar Portland General Manager

  Key Visual:  Thirty Portlanders dropping their keys into a lock box, one
               by one, as they pledge to shed their car for a month.

  Interviews:  Interviews with participants are available either in
               advance, on-site or throughout the month-long program.
               To schedule an interview, please contact Lesley Neadel at
               lneadel@cooperkatz.com or (917) 595-3034.

               Zipcar Portland General Manager Bill Scott will also be
               available for interviews at the event.

               *Note -- b-roll footage is available at
               http://zipcar.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=23

  Local
  Partners:    Montague Bikes, EveryDayHealth.com, HealthCentral.com,
               TriMet, City of Portland, The Bike Gallery, Department of
               Environmental Quality, Metro, Multnomah County Health,
               Chinook Book, NW Film Center, Amtrak and New Seasons Market

  About the 2009 Low-Car Diet

Zipcar's Low-Car Diet is an annual program that gives urban residents the opportunity to try out a car-free lifestyle for one month. Beginning July 15th, up to 30 participants from each of Zipcar's 13 cities will pledge to give up their personally owned car for one month, choosing instead to walk, bike, take public transit or use Zipcar for when a vehicle is necessary.

The 2009 Low-Car Diet is supported by national sponsors and editorial partners, including Montague Corporation, HealthCentral.com and EveryDayHealth.com. More information is available at zipcar.com/lowcardiet.

About Zipcar

Zipcar is the world's leading car-sharing service with 300,000 members and 6,500 vehicles in urban areas and college campuses throughout 26 North American states and provinces as well as in London, England. As a leader in urban transportation, Zipcar offers more than 30 makes and models of self-service vehicles by the hour or day to savvy city residents and businesses looking for an alternative to the high costs and hassles of owning a car in the city. More information is available at zipcar.com, zipcar.ca and zipcar.co.uk.