PORTLAND, Ore., Feb. 25, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- U-Haul International, Inc., which was founded in Portland in 1945 and still leads the way in the sharing of moving vans, is now expanding its service to customers by offering U Car Share. Partnering with the city of Portland, U Car Share provides the most convenient on-street access to vehicles downtown. U Car Share allows multiple users to share one vehicle, thus reducing an individual's environmental impact and allowing members to save thousands of dollars a year. Members pay only for what they use, in one low hourly rate. U Car Share takes care of fuel, insurance and maintenance costs.
A photo accompanying this release is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=5933
As the demand for car sharing grows and resources remain limited for additional parking on city streets, the progressive city of Portland has found a creative and innovative solution to the problem: The answer is car sharing. Car sharing meets the needs of residents while at the same time remaining sensitive to the surrounding community and environment. Car sharing reduces the demand for parking and results in greater sustainability.
U Car Share vehicles are positioned for easy access and are within walking distance of the MAX, Portland State University and the entire downtown area. U Car Share has EPA SmartWay certified vehicles at a number of parking locations in downtown Portland listed below, with more locations coming soon.
SW Stark and 12th Ave SW Washington and Broadway SW 12th Ave and Main SW 2nd Ave and Yamhill SW Oak and 9th Ave NW 8th Ave and Flanders NW 8th Ave and Couch
With no annual fees and cars for as little as $9.25 per hour, members can access U Car Share vehicles 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The hourly rate includes gas, 125 free miles and insurance. Members use their membership card to start and end their reservations. Each car also has its own reserved on-street parking space.
"U Car Share is a perfect extension of U-Haul Company's shared-use business model," exclaimed Stephen Baboi, U Car Share intern from Portland State University. "Being available right in the heart of downtown Portland, there is no need for people to bring a car to work. Take the MAX in to work and have U Car Share as an alternative."
Car sharing is becoming a critical element of the transportation network in many cities and universities, enabling residents, students and businesses to get rid of their cars while still meeting their transportation needs.
Prequalified members access the vehicle with a U Car Share membership card, also referred to as a SmartCard. The SmartCard will grant the member access to the car they reserve, at the time and the location at which the vehicle was reserved.
For a limited time, membership is free (a $50 value). Log on to ucarshare.com today and sign up. Because membership is free (with no annual fees), there's no reason not to join. Enter promotion code SHAREPDX2009 when signing up. (This promo code is case sensitive and will expire on March 31, 2009.) For all current car share members (Zipcar*, Flexcar(1), etc.), we will pre-approve you and send you a membership card immediately.
Research shows that car sharing is great for the environment. Every shared car on the road can replace up to 15 personally owned vehicles. This means that fewer cars will need to be manufactured, fewer cars will be on the road and the community's carbon footprint will be reduced. Car sharing is fast becoming a critical element of the transportation network in many cities and universities, enabling residents, students and businesses to get rid of their cars while still meeting their transportation needs.
U Car Share is also available in: Berkeley, Calif.; College Station, Texas; Madison, Wis.; and Portland, Maine.
For more information about U Car Share, log on to ucarshare.com or call 1-866-323-4591.
U-Haul Corporate Sustainability Initiative
U-Haul was founded by a Navy veteran who grew up in the Great Depression. Tires and gas were still rationed or in short supply during the late 1940s when U-Haul began serving U.S. customers. Today, that background is central to the U-Haul Sustainability Program: "Serving the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs." Our commitment to reduce, reuse and recycle includes fuel efficient moving vans, neighborhood proximity, moving box reuse, moving pads made from discarded material and packing peanuts that are 100 percent biodegradable. Learn more about these facts and others at uhaul.com/sustainability.
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* Zipcar and Flexcar(1) are the service mark of Zipcar, Inc., Flexcar, Inc. respectively.
The photo is also available via AP PhotoExpress.
