A car-sharing program is coming to the University of Arizona campus this month.
The program is a partnership between the UA and Hertz.
Anyone who registers for the program can use one of the 10 cars. They include people who bus, bike or walk to campus, and people who live in the surrounding neighborhoods.
People who live on campus but don't own a car might use them for errands or day trips, such as a trip to the grocery store or laundromat, or a day at the mall — "those things they brought a car to campus for, but it sits in a garage five out of seven days," said David Heineking, the UA's parking and transportation director.
The university needs car sharing because "single-occupant vehicles are bad for the environment, they cause congestion, and force us to build expensive parking garages," he said.
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Plus, he said, it's an alternative to buying a parking permit, which costs $353 to $568 a year in most cases.
The UA expects the program will be self-supported, but if it makes a profit, that money will go toward bus pass subsidies, bike racks and bike-path improvements, Heineking said.
Here are the details you need to know about car sharing: Who can use a car?
Anyone who registers for the program can use the cars. Drivers under 21 can't have any moving violations, such as a speeding ticket. How do I sign up for a car?
Go to www.connectbyhertz. com to apply. Once you pass the background check, a membership card is mailed to you.
You reserve your car on the Web site or by phone, and you get an e-mail and a text message telling you the car's license-plate number and location. How much does it cost?
You pay $8 to $10 per hour to use the car. There also are daily rates.
There's no extra cost for gasoline, insurance or maintenance. And you can get a free hour if you stop by a carwash. A worker makes sure the cars are fueled up and clean.
There are fees for late returns and extra miles.
Membership is free through August. When you sign up, use a promotional code 1858747 for students; 1858748 for faculty and staff members; or 1858749 for other Tucson residents. What do the cars look like?
There are Toyota Prius hybrids, Toyota Camrys and BMW Mini Coopers. They're painted normal car colors, so it doesn't look like you're driving the campus-mobile or a taxicab.
They also have navigation systems and iPod docks. Where are the cars?
They'll be arriving on campus in mid-August and parked near dorms for pickup and drop-off.
You use your membership card to open the door, and the keys are inside. If the keys are inside, won't the cars be stolen?
They have logos and GPS trackers, so a thief probably wouldn't get too far.
A computer chip in the membership card lets the car know it can unlock and start up for the cardholder. What about the worst-case scenarios, such as a dead battery or something gross spilled on the seat?
There's roadside assistance at the push of a button on the dashboard. Will people really use these cars?
Membership at Arizona State University's Zipcar program increased from 350 to nearly 900 last year, its second year. ASU has 11 cars for sharing and will add six more.
The UA used Ohio State University as a model. It also contracts with Hertz.
Nearly 400 students use Ohio State's 10 cars, keeping them in use about a quarter of the time. Ohio State is adding five cars to its program this year and is bumping up its marketing.
Cost comparisons
Hypothetical student
• Bringing a car to campus and leaving it in a garage, using it for a weekly trip to a grocery store and a trip to a mall. The weekly cost would be $44, including parking permit, insurance, gas and maintenance.
• Sharing a BMW Mini Cooper for one hour at the grocery story and three hours at the mall. The weekly cost would be $40.
• Savings for a full year: $208.
Hypothetical staff member
• Riding the bus to work four days a week and driving once a week to campus and a meeting in Marana. Weekly cost would be $25, including Sun Tran U-Pass, garage parking for one day and gas for the meeting.
• Riding the bus to work five days a week and sharing a Toyota Prius for two hours for the meeting in Marana. Weekly cost would be $20.
• Savings for a full year: $260.
