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Ten cars will be available to rent at a rate of $8 an hour at the UA as part of a new alternative transportation car-sharing program starting next month.

By La Monica Everett-Haynes, University Communications
July 22, 2009

The University of Arizona next month will launch a car-sharing program in an effort to promote the use of mass transportation while reducing the number of vehicles driven to campus each day.

Under a partnership with the Hertz global car-sharing club, eligible University employees and students will be able to rent one of the 10 vehicles in the fleet – a MINI Cooper, Toyota Prius or Toyota Camry – at a rate of $8 an hour, with a maximum mileage of 180 miles.

The program, which begins Aug. 1, is available to all employees and students, even those who drive to campus.

"Having a partnership with a larger company that has a large presence in Tucson is advantageous for us," said Bill Davidson, marketing specialist for UA Parking & Transportation Services.

The service, Connect by Hertz, is being marketed to the campus community as an "economical, convenient and socially conscious alternative to car ownership."

Davidson said the program is meant to encourage everyone  – particularly those who drive to work alone – to walk, bike, carpool or use public transportation instead. In fact, it is estimated that each car in the program will result in 14 fewer cars being driven to campus.

"Most people have a mental block about riding the bus."They feel like they're stranded," Davidson said, adding that people will likely rent the cars for a range of errands, such as grocery shopping or personal appointments. 

That concern can be diminished with the car-sharing program, along with other existing alternative transportation programs at the UA, he said. 

Each UA vehicle will be equipped with a global positioning system, or GPS, and available for either business or personal use. There is no cost to participate in the program – only the $8 per hour rental fee, which covers vehicle maintenance, cleaning, repair, insurance, roadside assistance and gas.

Registering and renting will be easy and convenient, Davidson said. "All this can be done online," he noted. 

This is how the program will work:

• Employees and students age 18 and older can join the service by applying at Connect by Hertz.
• Once approved, a membership card will be mailed that can then be used to make future reservations either by phone or online.
• After making a reservation, employees and students can go to the car they have reserved and swipe their cards on a device on the car to gain access.

Drivers between the ages of 18 and 21 must have a clean record and must have been driving for one year to rent a vehicle. All drivers must have a valid driver's license. Insurance will be provided through the program. 

The vehicles will be parked at various locations around campus: three at the Tyndall Avenue Garage; one at the Sixth Street Garage; two at the Second Street Garage; two at North Olive Road and East Second Street; and two on North Highland Avenue, just south of East Fourth Street.

Car-sharing programs began in Europe during the 1980s to promote the use of mass transportation.

During the 1990s, cities across the United States began offering comparable programs with Austin, Texas, Portland, Ore., and San Francisco being among those offering the service, according to CarSharing.net, a nonprofit that promotes car sharing.

The UA is the fourth institution to partner with Hertz. Other schools, including Duke University, Rice University and Syracuse University, have collaborated with other companies.

The UA has numerous other alternative transportation programs, including the car and vanpool programs, Sun Tran U-Pass discounts, the CatTran Shuttle, free bicycle parking spaces and fee-based bicycle lockers.

"Our goal is to have fewer cars on the road," Davidson said, noting that fewer cars equates to lower vehicle emissions,  pollutants and street congestion.

"With people using the car-sharing program," he said, "we are going to have fewer trips and more energy efficiency."