Zipcar Partners with the City of Houston to Offer Car Sharing in Midtown
HOUSTON, Jan. 23, 2017 – Zipcar, the world’s leading car sharing network, and the City of Houston, today announced an official partnership to add shared Zipcar vehicles in highly visible on-street spots in the Midtown District. Through the partnership, Zipcar and the City of Houston aim to further reduce traffic, congestion and parking demand throughout the City.
Four Zipcars are available through the program by the hour or by the day—a Volkswagen Jetta named “Davy Crockett,” a Mazda CX-5 named “Carlin,” a Subaru Crosstrek named “Blue Bell” and a Mazda3 named “Mayor Turner” (after Houston’s very own Mayor, Sylvester Turner). The vehicles are parked in designated parking spots near Midtown Square and the MetroRail for convenient pick up and drop off and can be reserved in seconds on Zipcar’s mobile app, online or over the phone. Each reservation includes gas, insurance, maintenance and 180 miles of driving per day.
“Midtown is a growing and vibrant area and car-share can help Houstonians more efficiently live, work, and play in this community,” said Mayor Sylvester Turner. “As density increases, we need to find innovative ways to make our existing infrastructure work for us, not against us. Our partnership with Zipcar allows us to take advantage of the sharing economy to better utilize our existing roadways and bring alternative transportation options to our community.”
The Midtown launch builds on Zipcar’s existing program in Houston, where the company began operating in March 2014. Today, Zipcar’s Houston fleet includes 40 cars in 25 locations, including four university campuses. Zipcar’s car-sharing technology is also installed in the City’s own fleet of vehicles, making it more efficient and saving tax payer’s dollars.
“With a mission to ease traffic and parking demand throughout Houston, we’re excited to extend our footprint to Midtown, giving residents greater access to vehicles without owning one or buying a second one,” said Justin Camarda, Zipcar Texas general manager. “Survey data shows there are 500 fewer personal vehicles on the roads in Houston because of Zipcar and we look forward to growing this number with the new Midtown locations.”
In addition to Midtown, Zipcars are available Downtown, in the Heights, Montrose, Upper Kirby, Westchase, at George Bush Intercontinental Airport, Prairie View A&M University, the University of Houston, Rice University and the Texas Medical Center.
Local businesses in Houston can also benefit from Zipcar’s presence through the Zipcar for Business program, which offers discounted driving rates Monday through Friday. The Z4B program helps businesses save money, meet environmental sustainability goals and reduce parking requirements by providing employees with access to Zipcar for business needs and other uses.
Prospective members can join the service instantly on Zipcar’s mobile app. For more information on Zipcar in Houston, please visit: www.zipcar.com/houston.
About Zipcar
Zipcar is the world’s leading car sharing network, driven by a mission to enable simple and responsible urban living. With its wide variety of self-service vehicles available by the hour or day, Zipcar operates in urban areas and university campuses in over 500 cities and towns across Austria, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Spain, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States. Zipcar offers the most comprehensive, most convenient and most flexible car sharing options available. Zipcar is a subsidiary of Avis Budget Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: CAR), a leading global provider of vehicle rental services. More information is available at www.zipcar.com.
About ParkHouston
ParkHouston supports the City of Houston’s economic development by providing superior customer service, investing in cutting edge technologies, and actively collaborating with stakeholders. As a solution-focused division of the Administration and Regulatory Affairs Department, we service and maintain over 9,200 on-street parking spaces across the City. We create sound parking management strategies for commercial and residential areas that enhance pedestrian safety, ensure a smooth flow of traffic, and allow emergency vehicles to reach their destinations. ParkHouston also works to create more sustainable communities by reducing congestion and supporting alternative modes of transportation.
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Media Contacts:
Katelyn Chesley
Zipcar Public Relations
617.678.7206
Lara Cottingham
City of Houston Administration & Regulatory Affairs Department
832.393.8503