U Car Share Lowering the Cost of Car Sharing -- Cars Available for as Little as $4.95 an Hour Plus Mileage
PHOENIX, Aug. 4, 2009 -- U Car Share now offers flexible pricing on every vehicle in its fleet. Cars now start at $4.95 an hour plus $0.59 per mile, which makes short trips even more affordable. The U Car Share reservation system will automatically calculate the lowest rate for a member's reservation whether they travel two miles or 20 miles. For longer trips, hourly rates typically max out at $8-$12 per hour and include 180 miles free (previously 125 miles).
U Car Share has also reduced its one-time registration fee to $25 (previously $50). No annual membership fees, new flexible-rate plans and a simplified online application process make car sharing easier than ever. Members of other car sharing organizations can join U Car Share without paying the one-time registration fee, thus affording car share users the availability of more shared vehicles.
U Car Share is expanding its fleet of vehicles to offer members more eco-friendly choices with the addition of more EPA SmartWay certified vehicles such as the Toyota Prius, Ford Focus, Toyota Yaris, MINI Cooper and Ford Escape Hybrid.
"One of the goals of U Car Share is to reduce miles traveled on the road," stated Mike Colman, U Car Share Program manager. "It only makes sense to give a better rate to our members who go only a few miles, while still providing the flexibility to go many miles without the worry of excess costs."
For members who use the vehicles regularly, new monthly rate plans include the U Go 50 and U Go 125. Each plan requires a monthly commitment of $50 or $125 respectively, which is added to the member's account as credit toward reservations. Members on either plan will receive a 10 or 15 percent discount on rates, depending on which plan they choose.
Research shows that car sharing is great for the environment. Every shared car on the road can replace up to 15 personally owned vehicles. This means that fewer cars will need to be manufactured, fewer cars will be on the road and the community's carbon footprint will be reduced. Car sharing is fast becoming a critical element of the transportation network in many cities and universities, enabling residents, students and businesses to get rid of their cars while still meeting their transportation needs.
U Car Share is available in: Portland, Maine; College Station, Texas; Madison, Wis.; Berkeley, Calif., and Portland, Ore. More locations coming soon include Salt Lake City, Regis College in Weston, Mass. and Virginia Tech.
For more information about U Car Share, log on to ucarshare.com or call 877-990-8227.
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