Holy Cross is the First College in Worcester to Have Zipcars on Campus

WORCESTER, Mass. – The College of the Holy Cross Student Government Association (SGA), in conjunction with the Office of Student Programs and Involvement, as well as Auxiliary Services, is pleased to announce the arrival of Zipcar, the world's largest car-sharing company, to the College campus.  Zipcars are available to the Holy Cross community and the general public.

Holy Cross students will take the first official ride in a Zipcar Friday, Oct. 12, at 1 p.m., leaving from student parking lot behind the Hogan Campus Center and driving to the Worcester Intercollegiate Government (WIG) meeting at the Worcester Chamber of Commerce. From 1 – 2 p.m. there will be a photo op and students will be available for interviews.

The College has arranged for two cars, a Toyota hybrid and a Ford Escape, which will be parked in the student lot behind the Hogan Campus Center. To be eligible to rent a car, drivers need to apply for a Zip Card and pay an annual $35 fee (student rate). Rental costs will be $8 an hour (including gas, insurance, and parking fees). Each car will have a fuel card for the purpose of refueling as needed (all costs incurred by Zipcar).

With more than 100,000 customers worldwide, Zipcar offers self-service, on demand car rentals by the hour or day. The arrival of two cars on the Holy Cross campus marks a key step in the SGA’s commitment to providing students and the campus community with access to the city of Worcester and beyond.

Zipcars will give students and members of the Worcester community who don’t have access to a private car the opportunity for excursions; whether for a job interview, a trip to the grocery store, or a weekend outing.

“We think that the Zipcars on campus will be instrumental in integrating the Holy Cross and Worcester communities,” said Dave Lipke ‘08, SGA co-chair. “Underclassmen in particular will benefit from having vehicles easily accessible for their personal use.”

The long-term effect of Zipcars on a college campus can be astounding. The company points to a notable decline in the number of privately owned cars on campuses that provide Zipcars to its students. Recent studies by both the Zipcar company and government transportation agencies indicate that a single Zipcar on a campus can reduce the number of private vehicles by 20.

The environmental benefits of driving a Zipcar are substantial.  By promoting carpooling, need-based usage, and the use of hybrid vehicles in fleets, Zipcars are reducing fuel consumption and urban emissions. It is estimated that the national Zipcar fleet saved 8.5 million gallons of gas consumption in 2005 alone.

Taking it one step further, SGA requested that one of the Zipcars arriving on campus be a hybrid vehicle. “Purchasing a hybrid vehicle sends a positive message regarding the College's newfound mission of ‘going green,’” said Melissa Ogonowski ‘09, the student government’s director of environmental concerns. “I think Zipcars are a good step in moving towards a more environmentally aware community.”

The Student Government Association (SGA) at the College of the Holy Cross is the governing body for all student organizations on campus. Their primary objective is to represent students in the important decisions that occur on a daily basis at the College.  The SGA is actively involved in raising awareness of important issues that pertain to all Holy Cross students, all in a concerted attempt to make the College a better place to learn, live and work. This year’s co-chairs are David Lipke ’08 and Christina Ventresca ’08.

For more information or to reserve a car, please visit Zipcar.