Car sharing company Zipcar will add 10 new locations to its fleet of more than 80 cars in the Pittsburgh area, as transportation options in the city continue to expand. The new Zipcar spots will be located next to Healthy Ride bike sharing stations across the city.
“The transportation landscape is changing and people are looking for access to more convenient, flexible, environmentally-friendly options,” says Erin Cooper, Zipcar Pittsburgh market manager.
For the uninitiated, here’s how Zipcar works: Registered users (they conduct a driving check before you’re ready to roll) can reserve one of 80 vehicles stationed around the city for fixed amounts of time at an hourly rate. Drivers just have to keep the car clean, return it on time, and make sure the tank is always at least a quarter full. Zipcar covers gas and maintenance costs.
“Every day people look for the best mobility solution to get around the city easily and cost-effectively,” says Pittsburgh’s Chief Resilience Officer Grant Ervin. “Integrating travel modes close together makes it easier for consumers to make the best choice.”
According to Zipcar, in a recent survey of its Pittsburgh members, more than 70 percent reported using public transportation and biking the same or more after joining the car sharing service, and 87 percent reported walking the same or more after joining.
The additional Zipcars can be picked up at the following bike sharing stations:
- Third Avenue and Wood Street, Downtown
- First Avenue and Smithfield Street, Downtown
- 42nd Street and Penn Avenue in Lawrenceville, near Children’s Hospital
- 42nd and Butler Streets in Lawrenceville
- South Euclid and Center Avenues in Shadyside
- Ivy and Walnut Streets in Shadyside
- 12th Street and Penn Avenue in the Strip District
