Zipcar Pulls into Loma Linda University

Loma Linda University Health has announced a new partnership with Zipcar, a car sharing network, to offer a Zipcar car sharing program on campus. The new program launched on Wednesday, Jan. 7, on campus in front of Magan Hall, where two of the new vehicles were showcased, featuring a group of staff and students, brief remarks from officials, and computerized sign ups, in which the first 100 individuals received free one-year memberships. The transportation option will be available at an affordable rate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for students, faculty and staff ages 18 and older, as well as members of the local community ages 21 and over. Loma Linda University Health will initially offer two vehicles, a Toyota Prius and a Ford Focus. The Zipcars will have designated parking spots located in a campus lot near the southwest intersection of Anderson and Mound streets (lot P) for convenient pick-up and return. Zipcars will be available on-demand and easily reserved and accessed 24 hours a day, seven days a week. This year, Loma Linda University Health students, faculty, and staff can join for $25, with rates for Zipcar vehicles on campus starting as low as $7.50 per hour and $69 per day. After the first year, members will pay an annual membership fee of $35. Gas, insurance, and up to 180 miles of driving per day are included in Zipcar rates, and cars can be reserved for as little as an hour or for multiple days. “Loma Linda is pleased to partner with Zipcar to help reduce the number of cars on campus by giving students, staff, patients, and community members mobility without the need for car ownership,” said Richard H. Hart, MD, DrPH, Loma Linda University Health president. “Zipcar is becoming a popular option on campuses across the country. We believe this resource will help us continue to make our campus a more pedestrian- and bike -friendly place; it fits well with our culture of wholeness. Some students and others who don’t own cars will no longer need to buy a car when they move to Loma Linda. Enjoy the Zipcar convenience!” Participating members with smartphones, including iPhones and Android devices, will be able to download the Zipcar mobile application to make reservations, lock and unlock the vehicles, and honk the horn to help locate the vehicle. They will also be able to make reservations over the phone or on Zipcar’s website. “Together with Loma Linda University Health, we’re enabling this next generation of drivers to experience a new generation of cars and transportation in a way that is both convenient and cost-effective, not to mention fun,” said Katelyn Lopresti, general manager for Zipcar University. Loma Linda University students, faculty and staff can join Zipcar at www.zipcar.com/llu.