Hofstra Launches Zipcar Sharing Program

Zipcar Program Offers Students a Convenient, Cost Effective and Environmentally-Friendly Option to Owning a Car

HEMPSTEAD, N.Y., Sept. 25 -- Hofstra University and Zipcar, the world's largest car sharing service, today announced the launch of Zipcar's car-sharing program on campus. The decision to offer Zipcar to the Hofstra community was driven in part by strong student involvement and advocacy, and reflects Hofstra's commitment to a high quality campus lifestyle and a lower carbon footprint.

Beginning today, two self-service Zipcars - one Honda Insight Hybrid and one Honda Civic - will be available for use 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The cars will be located in reserved spaces and are available to all students and staff ages 18 and over. Gas, insurance, roadside assistance, 180 free miles and reserved parking are included in low hourly and daily rates.

Students and staff can join Zipcar for personal use for $35 and can drive for as little as $8 per hour or $66 per day weekdays and $9 per hour or $72 per day on weekends. They will also get $35 in free driving credit as part of a launch promotion.

The partnership with Zipcar is another step toward a greener Hofstra. The university is committed to sustainability with support from students and faculty, including an Environmental Priorities Committee (EPC) that works to include environmental perspectives into issues relating to university life at all levels, from operations to academics to student life, retention and recruitment.

"While there's no doubt that Zipcar is a great addition to our sustainability efforts, the fact that our students felt strongly about the program made the decision even easier," said Vice President of Student Affairs Sandra Johnson. "We're glad that we can provide a service that meets the needs of our students, our university and our community."

Zipcar provides a service that appeals to both the freedom-loving nature of college students who want to experience the world around them and the practical concerns of administrators tasked with running a university and reducing overall costs.

Zipcar also offers a practical and proven solution to managing demand for parking, reducing congestion and emissions and adding a lifestyle-oriented service to campus.

"Zipcar is a unique service in that it offers a great lifestyle amenity to students while at the same time addressing parking, congestion and carbon emission issues for universities," said Matthew Malloy, vice president of international university operations for Zipcar.

Zipcar was selected as Hofstra University's car-sharing partner based on its industry leading brand, superior technology and operations, membership experience and track record of providing peer universities with a proven, cost effective and environmentally friendly transportation solution.

Zipcar serves more than 130 colleges and universities across the country. Among the dozens of colleges that have partnered with Zipcar to reduce traffic, noise and parking demands are MIT, Columbia, Georgetown, American University, University of Michigan, Harvard University, University of Minnesota, University of Toronto, University of North Carolina, The University of Chicago, and UCLA.

More information about Zipcar at Hofstra University is available online at: www.zipcar.com/hofstra

About Hofstra University

Hofstra University is a dynamic private institution where students can choose from about 150 undergraduate and more than 160 graduate programs in liberal arts and sciences, business; engineering; communication; education, health and human services; and honors studies, as well as a School of Law. With a student-faculty ratio of 14-to-1, our professors teach small classes averaging 22 students that emphasize interaction, critical thinking and analysis. Hofstra offers a faculty whose highest priority is teaching excellence. The University also provides excellent facilities with state-of-the-art technology, extensive library resources and internship programs that match students' interests and abilities with appropriate companies and organizations. The Hofstra community is driven, dynamic and energetic, helping students find and focus their strengths to prepare them for a successful future.

About Zipcar

Zipcar is the world's leading car-sharing service with 325,000 members and 6,500 vehicles in urban areas and college campuses throughout 28 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 www.Zipcar.com.