By Ryan Broderick, Senior News Editor
Zipcars have been recently added to the University’s campus. For those unfamiliar with the program, a Zipcar is a vehicle-sharing program aimed at ending wasteful fuel usage.
The University added the cars on Tuesday, September 15th. The two cars currently on campus are located on the north side of campus, to the left of the main gate, near The Bill Of Rights residence hall.
In order to get the word out about the new additions, the Department of Student Affairs has sent out emails and put up flyers around campus. In an email sent to students, the Zipcar division of Hofstra described their desire, “to offer our community members a convenient, low-cost sustainable transportation alternative that is revolutionizing transportation itself.”
Vice President of Student Affairs, Sandra Johnson, said that the department is, “obviously excited to have them [Zipcars] on campus. We’ve been putting the information out. We’re hoping to get moving.”
In order to use the vehicles, students must have a valid driver’s license, be affiliated with the University, and register with a Zipcar account.
As far as what else may come out of the program, Vice President Johnson explained, “If usage is exceeding, which we expect it to, we would certainly make a request for additional cars. Because it actually takes about 20 personally-owned cars off the road, hopefully fewer students will need to bring a car to school.”
But how are the students reacting to the newly added Zipcars? Many students were excited about the program. Junior, Heather Glazewski, said “It’s pretty cool actually. I’m pretty jealous ‘cause I brought my car to campus. I think for freshman it’s a pretty good idea, but after that probably not.”
A few were concerned with how it might pan out. “Students would probably abuse the fact that they’re driving around in the car, treat it like their own little room, trash it and stuff. It also doesn’t give students the opportunity to meet students who have a car. Some of the drivers on campus are absolutely crazy,” worried junior, Jeff Herman.
Some students, though, didn’t know much about the Zipcars. Junior, Max Singer claimed to have not heard about the new program. “Is it one of those green programs? That seems a little silly.”
(Caity Gilvary/The Chronicle)
(Caity Gilvary/The Chronicle)