Glenn Connelly / Photo Editor

A new car rental service available on campus next semester will put students behind the wheel.

“It’s good for the environment and good for students’ pocketbooks,” Grant Mack, Associated Students green commissioner and chair of the Green Love Board, said.

Annual membership for the new Zipcar program costs $35. Students 18 years and older can reserve the car online for $8 per hour on weekdays and $9 on weekends, and use the vehicle for anything from running errands to driving up to San Francisco.

Using radio frequency identification, the cars recognize when someone has reserved a ride. After hovering a Zipcar membership card, or “zipcard,” above the windshield, the car will unlock and the keys will be waiting in “a super-secret spot” inside the vehicle, according to the Zipcar Web site.

BlackBerry Zipcar applications are available, and those with an iPhone can unlock their car, and even honk it, from their phone.

Three hybrid Honda Insights are parked in the O-Lot across from Jack in the Box, and two Honda Civics are parked in the Zura parking lot next to Tenochca Residence Hall, which will be accessible in February, according to Mack.

Gas and insurance are included with the costs, and members can drive up to 180 miles each day; however, members cannot make one-way trips.

Zipcars are located in more than 50 cities across the United States, including Boston, Portland and Chicago, and on more than 100 college campuses in North America, according to the Zipcar Web site.

The membership card provides access to all locations once the member is 21 years old.

The cars have proved to be successful at UC San Diego, as it increased its pool of cars from five to 12, according to Mack.

Mack said his predecessor pitched the idea to A.S. last year, but everyone thought “she was crazy.”

But the idea will become a reality next semester, and Mack said faculty and staff have been a big help.

“Instead of asking, “why are we doing this?’ administrators are asking “how?'” Mack said.

Zipcars will run independent of A.S. and SDSU, and neither the university nor A.S. will profit from the company, according to Mack.
Mack said the program will help reduce the amount of cars on campus and reduce pollution and typical costs for car owners.
Car rules apply, such as no pets and no smoking, unless the pet is a service animal. Zipcars cater to disabled members as well, who can request cars with hand controls when making the reservation.
Founders of Zipcar implemented the European car sharing idea in North America, and is now the largest car sharing service in the world, according to the Web site.