Wheaton College Partners with Zipcar to Offer Car Sharing on Campus

Today, Wheaton College launched a partnership with Zipcar, Inc., the world’s leading car-sharing network, to offer a car-sharing program on campus.

The program allows Wheaton to make cars available by the hour or by the day to students, faculty, and staff ages 18 and older, as well as to members of the local community ages 21 and over.

The cars can be reserved by at zipcar.com/wheaton, via Facebook or mobile app, or over the phone.

This year, Wheaton College members can join for a $25 annual membership fee, with rates on campus Zipcar vehicles starting as low as $7.50 per hour and $69 per day. Gas, insurance, reserved parking spots, up to 180 miles of driving per day and roadside assistance are included in Zipcar rates. Cars can be reserved for as little as an hour or for multiple days. Wheaton College students, faculty and staff can join at zipcar.com/wheaton.

“This partnership allows Wheaton College to provide our students and members of the surrounding community with the convenience of having a car available, while also encouraging responsible stewardship of the environment,” says Wheaton College spokeswoman LaTonya Taylor. “We’re glad to provide access to reliable vehicles for quick trips off-campus, nights out with friends, or the road trips that are part of the college experience.”

Wheaton College will initially offer a Ford Focus and a Honda Insight. The cars will be located in campus lots near Howard Street and College Avenue (campus map). Zipcars are self-service and can be easily reserved and accessed 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

“We see our partnership with Wheaton College as a win-win. Together, we're enabling this next generation of student drivers to experience a new generation of cars and transportation in a way that is convenient and cost-effective, not to mention fun,” said Michael Serafino, general manager for Zipcar University. “Zipcar is also an environmentally friendly transportation alternative. Each car shared removes 15 privately owned vehicles from the road, thereby cutting down on emissions and congestion.”

Zipcar has established partnerships with other local colleges, including North Central College and Elmhurst College along with more than 250 universities across the US. For more information and to become a member of Zipcar at Wheaton College, please visit zipcar.com/wheaton.