City Yay (Really), Zipcar!
posted by on July 14 at 15:41 PM
Even as some pundits predict doom for carsharing due to ever-increasing oil prices, the biggest carsharing company in the nation, Zipcar, is taking a smart series of steps to help it stay solvent. First and (to me) most important: Lowering prices on hybrids, which have until now been more expensive than regular sedans. Hybrids will now cost the same as regular cars, and some will be just $7 an hour. As I’ve said before: Charging more for hybrids (a step the company made, a company spokesman told me, to reflect the higher cost of the cars themselves) makes no sense if you’re trying to get people to give up their cars (part of Zipcar’s official mission); and may not even make financial sense as oil prices head higher.
Second, they’re retooling their pricing structure, making some cars more expensive and some less. The change is about a dollar an hour in either direction, and appears to only impact cars downtown; but assuming the company’s optimism “that we get some relief at the pump” proves unfounded, I’m guessing this isn’t the last price hike we’ll see this year. Which is a drag, but hardly the company’s fault.
Finally, the company is giving away free memberships, transit passes, drive time credit, and other amenities to people who agree to give up one vehicle for 30 days. Personally, I did prefer the old (if ungrammatical!) One Less Car Challenge, which provides big incentives to participants who agree to ditch their cars altogether. But the 30-day “low-car diet” (and, OK, why does everything with Zipcar have to be so goddamned cutesy?) is a step in a good direction.
I just looked it up and they're not offering the low-car diet anymore, which is a shame. Only reason I hadn't signed up is because the membership price irked me. In what magical land did they advertise this? I was just scouring their website about four days ago.
I might be speaking for all of Slog when I say how happy I am that Zipcar made you happy today. I (we?) am cautiously optimistic that this trend will continue to the point that Zipcar posts will no longer be necessary at all.
Fingers crossed and happy driving, ECB!
Right on, I hope these changes work out for them, because despite Zipcar's flaws, it's a great (and needed) service to have here in the city.
And I second JTC in that I'm happy they finally did right by you.
@2,
That's the zippiest thing I've ever read.
I paid for a Zipcar for the first time since they took my Flexcar away. Why? To pick up my stranded bicycle (the bike truck coming back from STP got a flat). The forumla remains the same.
Bicycle >> Flexcar > Zipcar.
I look forward to a new one-less car challenge that has the city handing out Xtracycles with passenger footsies or bikes with CETMA racks, etc.
$7 an hour? I might as well keep driving my own. That's $56 per work day plus drive time, closer to $70.
@6: It's not for the daily commute, it's for those of us who take the bus, walk or bike to work and most other place, but need a car occasionally for out-of-the-way places and cargo carrying.
Also, you're probably under-estimating the cost of your car. You should include costs like maintenance, insurance and depreciation in that number. Not to mention that I can read, write or (sometimes) get online on the bus, while I'm otherwise occupied as a driver.
"Personally, I did prefer the old (if ungrammatical!) One Less Car Challenge, which provides big incentives to participants who agree to ditch their cars altogether."
Yeah, that was Flexcar.
Zipcar hasn't really won me over yet.
Nice post, Erica. Thanks for sharing something that made you happy.
the one less car challenge IS (not was) run by the city of seattle - not flexcar or zipcar. and flexcar gave $400 in free credit for the program, whereas zipcar will only give a free membership (worth about $40). so yeah, still waiting for zipcar to wow. and as for the one less car challenge - the city still offers it!
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