The University of Nevada, Reno launched a partnership with Zipcar, the world's leading car-sharing network. Zipcar is available to students, faculty and staff ages 18 and older and community members older than 21.

"The Zipcar program on campus gives students, faculty and staff the freedom of using a car without the hassles of owning one," Katelyn Bushey, Zipcar director of university sales, said. "We're happy to partner with the University of Nevada, Reno to give their community a transportation option to fit their needs and their wallet."

Participants with smartphones may download the Zipcar mobile application to make reservations, lock and unlock the vehicles and honk the horn to help locate the vehicle. Reservations can also be made over the phone or on Zipcar's website.

Members can join the program for a fee of $15 for the first year, with rates for Zipcar vehicles on campus starting as low as $7.50 per hour and $69 per day. After the first year, members pay an annual membership fee of $25. Gas, insurance and up to 180 miles of driving per day are included in Zipcar rates, and cars can be reserved for as little as an hour or for multiple days. Two special Zipcar parking spaces are located in the parking lot on the corner of 11th and Virginia Streets.

"The more transportation demand management programs that are offered to the campus community, such as Zipcar, the more we can help decrease the drive-alone rate to campus," Michelle Horton, parking administration manager for the University's Parking and Transportation Services Department, said. "We ultimately would like to postpone the construction of high priced parking structures."
With the new Zipcar program, student organizations at the University also have the opportunity to participate in the "Students with Drive" grant program sponsored by Zipcar and Ford Motor Company. The program provides students with Zipcar membership and driving credit.

Through the Students with Drive grant program, Ford and Zipcar provide $200,000 in grants to be awarded to student organizations at eligible Zipcar colleges and universities. The program is running now through April 2016, and will culminate with a grand prize worth $25,000 in scholarships, cash and Zipcar driving. For more information and to participate in the program, students can visit www.zipcar.com/studentswithdrive.

Zipcar has established relationships with more than 500 universities across the country.

University students, faculty and staff can join Zipcar at www.zipcar.com/unr. Additional information and promotions can also be found by following @ZipcarU on Twitter.