U Car Share Provides 12 More EPA SmartWay Vehicles Throughout Salt Lake City
SALT LAKE CITY, Dec. 15, 2009 -- U Car Share and Salt Lake City will be celebrating the launch of U Car Share vehicles on Wednesday, December 16, 2009, at 11:30 a.m. at the U Car Share stall on 225 S. Main Street. Car sharing meets the needs of anyone who needs a car occasionally, while being sensitive to the surrounding community and environment. Car sharing reduces the demand for parking and results in greater sustainability while enabling individuals to remain mobile.
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Learn about the positive impact U Car Share will have on Salt Lake City, receive educational information on how this new technology works and be a part of supporting car sharing in Utah. U Car Share allows members access to cars 24/7, thus eliminating the need to own a car. Members pay only for what they use, in one low hourly rate starting at $4.95 per hour (plus mileage starting at $0.49 per mile). U Car Share takes care of fuel, insurance and maintenance costs. Hourly rates that include 180 miles free per reservation range from $8.50-$11.50 per hour, depending on the vehicle.
"Car sharing supports the City's long-term economic, environmental and social sustainability goals through increasing balanced transportation options and green alternatives for residents and visitors," said Mayor Ralph Becker. "I encourage participation as we focus on solutions to create a more sustainable city."
Anyone 18 years or older with at least two years of driving experience may qualify for membership in U Car Share. Local Salt Lake City resident Carla H. said, "My husband and I have been able to be car-free for three months now, thanks in part to U Car Share! We sold our vehicle in August and use public transportation during the week, but have been using U Car Share for running errands and going up to the mountains. We're grateful that this service is available and have been pleasantly surprised with how easy it is to use." Now, with many more locations around town, U Car Share is a convenient alternative that can save thousands of dollars vs. owning a car and having to deal with parking, insurance, fuel and maintenance.
The latest launch of U Car Share vehicles throughout Salt Lake City will ensure easy access at the following locations.
410 South 200 East
306 East 700 South
810 South 200 West
384 West 200 South
108 West 200 North
119 East 1st Avenue
225 South Main Street
180 South 300 East
374 South 1000 East
1306 East Wilson Ave.
1900 South Douglas Street
2080 South 1200 East
U Car Share will be providing the following 12 EPA SmartWay certified vehicles: one Ford Escape Hybrid, four Ford Focuses, four Mazda 3s, one Ford F-150 (not SmartWay Certified but great for utility) and two Toyota Priuses. The vehicles will be located conveniently in labeled parking stalls. All of the vehicles, except for the F-150, qualify for the Salt Lake City Green Vehicle Parking Permit Program and will have the green sticker on the vehicle. With this latest addition of 12 vehicles and four being added at the University of Utah and the already existing 12 car share vehicles along the TRAX brings the total to 28 U Car Share vehicles.
Members will be able to access the vehicle with a U Car Share membership card. They will be able to log on to ucarshare.com at any time and reserve any vehicle of their choice. Members can reserve cars for as little as an hour, at any time of day. Gas and insurance are all included in one low hourly rate starting at $4.95 per hour (plus mileage starting at $0.49 per mile). Daily and hourly rates with included miles are available, as well.
"Helping to create greater sustainability through shared-use vehicles is another way of showing our commitment to our community," exclaimed Michael Kemp, president, U-Haul Company of Utah. "We are excited to be working with Salt Lake City on this project and being able to make a difference in our community."
For a limited time, the one time membership fee is reduced to only $5.00 for all residents (a $20 value). Log on to ucarshare.com today and enter promotion code CITYSHARE when signing up. (This promo code will expire on January 15, 2010.)
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 committed to the community and will work with Salt Lake City to see that the program is successful and looks forward to the growth of car sharing.
U Car Share is also available in: Portland, Maine; Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va.; Madison, Wis.; Berkeley, Calif., Portland, Ore., Weston, Mass.; Eugene, Ore., Regis College, Weston, Mass., and the University of Utah, Salt Lake City.
For more information about U Car Share, log on to ucarshare.com or call 1-877-990-8227.
About U-Haul
Since 1945, U-Haul has been the best choice for the do-it-yourself mover, with a network of more than 15,800 locations in all 50 United States and 10 Canadian provinces. U-Haul customers' patronage has enabled the U-Haul fleet to grow to approximately 101,000 trucks, 76,000 trailers and 34,000 towing devices. U-Haul offers more than 395,000 rooms and approximately 35 million square feet of storage space at nearly 1,090 owned and managed facilities throughout North America. U-Haul is the consumer's number one choice as the largest installer of permanent trailer hitches in the automotive aftermarket industry. As one of the nation's largest retailers of propane, U-Haul supplies alternative-fuel for vehicles and backyard barbecues.
U-Haul was founded by a Navy veteran who grew up during the Great Depression. Tires and gas were still rationed or in short supply during the late 1940s when U-Haul began serving U.S. customers. Today, that background is central to the U-Haul Sustainability Program: "Serving the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs." Our commitment to reduce, reuse and recycle includes fuel efficient moving vans, neighborhood proximity, moving-box reuse, moving pads made from discarded material, and packing peanuts that are 100 percent biodegradable. Learn more about these facts and others at www.uhaul.com/sustainability.
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