MoneySaver: Car sharing in the Triangle grows
RALEIGH (WTVD) -- Car sharing is a concept that is growing throughout the Triangle area with Zipcars now located everywhere from RDU Airport to downtown Raleigh on Glenwood Avenue to campuses including Meredith College and NC State University.
"If you need anything off campus for a project or anything, it's good," said NCSU freshman Cameron Henderson.
Henderson walks past a few Zipcars outside his dorm at NC State several times a day. He says several of his friends have become members of the car sharing service.
"I know people that do use it," he said. "They have cars, but maybe their parents don't let them bring them up here and they live far out or need transportation for a weekend trip or something like that. So, they just use it."
In fact, Zipcars are being used in more than 470 cities and more than 400 campuses around the world. You join online and choose a membership which, according to the website, ranges from a low of $6 a month to $8-$10 an hour depending on your usage. Once your membership is approved, you receive a Zipcard in the mail that's about the size of a credit card and allows you to access cars anywhere.
To get into your Zipcar, you hold your Zipcard onto the windshield over a sensor and it unlocks the door. The keys are inside and you can take it wherever you need to go with mileage included per trip. Gas is also included. There's a gas card inside to re-fill the Zipcar, and you do have to bring it back to the location where you picked it up.
"I think for the convenience it's good," said NCSU freshman Alicia Loomer-Stewart. She has Zipcars parked outside her dorm on campus and feels the green element to the car sharing is also a plus.
"For the environment, they don't use big Hummers that take up all this gas," she said. "They use smaller cars that are fuel efficient, that are good for gas. I think it's OK!"
Memberships are available for the public, businesses, or universities. Insurance is included with the membership.
There are some requirements to get a Zipcard. You have to be 21 or 18 if you are a college student and have a clean driver's license to name a few.
For more information on Zipcars, click HERE.
