ZipCar Sort of Goes Idle for a Month

Starting July 21st ZipCar dares you not to drive. CoolHunting reports that the company has introduced a new program: the Low-Car Diet. For those willing to take the leap and go car-free for a full 30 days, they are replacing "participants' car keys with a complimentary transit pass, a free one-year Zipcar membership, drive time credit and a number of other perks from local partners. In the New York City area, Zoo York will aid the car-less participants by donating skateboards"! The month will be bookended by a ceremonial key-drop on the 21st and a completion event on August 15th (details on both TBA). New York is one of the 10 U.S. cities where the program is being offered (Zipcar members were also asked to participate), but the website now states that applications are on hold. We've contacted ZipCar and they told us "we're still open for enrollment here in NYC!" You can contact rharmon (at) zipcar (dot) com if you are interested.

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By Jen Carlson in News on July 11, 2008 4:29 PM

Comments [rss]

BQE

Zipcars include the cost of gasoline, when a car is rented. Given current circumstances (and probably budgets decided on last year) it's more cost-effective to do this than to rent cars.

cwbuecheler

Oh, I'm an idiot - they're encouraging people to not drive except when they go through zipcar.

cwbuecheler

How is it financially valuable to zipcar to encourage people NOT to drive?

Colochita

Oh… I see… you’re supposed to give up your own car and use zipcar… well, whatever. They still never have any cars available.

Colochita

Wait, what? We have a zipcar membership because we have ALREADY made the "leap" of going car-free. And if one of the rare times we need a car just happens to fall after July 21, no little rewards for us? Lame.

They're probably only doing this because they never have any damn cars available.

brooklynbs

"Due to popular demand, we are no longer accepting applications for the Low-Car Diet at this time, but be sure and check back here soon to find out how our participants are doing."

Durn!

I'm not sure how they marketed this, but I'm a ZipCar member and I was never informed.