BERKELEY, Calif., Jan. 21, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- U Car Share is expanding its growth as it partners with the University of Berkeley by launching the alternative to vehicle ownership. 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.
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As the demand for car sharing grows at the University of Berkeley and resources remain limited for additional parking on city streets, the progressive university has found a creative and innovative solution to the problem: The answer is car sharing. Car sharing meets the needs of residents while being 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 available on the University of California Berkeley campus. U Car Share will provide four EPA SmartWay certified PT Cruisers at three parking locations on campus and one cargo van within walking distance. Two cars will be located in the open parking lot on Channing Way between Telegraph and Bowditch. One car will be in the open parking lot on Addison, between Oxford and Shattuck. Another car will be located in the parking lot on Shattuck at Hearst St. The cargo van will be located in the open parking lot on Haste St. at Milvia.
"U-Haul has been in the trailer and truck-sharing business for more than 61 years," exclaimed Eric Crocker, president, U-Haul Company West Sacramento, "and U Car share is the perfect extension of our business model. Helping to create greater sustainability through shared-use vehicles is just another way of showing our commitment to our community."
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 for a free membership with no annual fees. Enter promotion code BERKELEY2009 when signing up. (This promo code is case sensitive and will expire on February 28, 2009.) Zipcar* and City CarShare* members are encouraged to join and have U Car Share as another option when a car is needed.
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 committed to the community and will work with the University of Berkeley to see that the program is successful. U Car Share is very excited to be in Berkeley and looks forward to the growth of car sharing.
U Car Share is also available in: Portland, Maine; College Station, Texas; Madison, Wis.; and Portland, Ore.
For more information about U Car Share, log on to uhaul.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 City CarShare are the service marks of Zipcar, Inc. and City CarShare, Inc. respectively.
The photo is also available via AP PhotoExpress.
