Your input is needed on the idea of establishing a flex-car system at NCSU so we can determine if major steps should be taken to pursue it over the summer. Kenneth Webb, the new Student Senate University Affairs Committee Chair came up with this idea, and will be heading this project.

What is a flex-car system? -- It is a fleet of cars located in designated areas in the NCSU community that students (provided at least 18 years of age) can rent for short time periods at a rate of around $5/hour or $60/day. Students subscribing to the program ($35/year fee, which might be waved) will be issued an online account and a card to access the vehicles. Reservations are made online where students can see schedules for the cars as well as where they are located.

Goals of the system would be to provide an affordable way for students to have access to a car when they need it, save students money who drive less often but still pay for parking permits and take up on-campus spots that other students could use, and providing a more environmentally-friendly transit option.

Provide your feedback on this idea here: http://www4.ncsu.edu/~jmsevits/flex.htm

Other information can be found here:
UCLA Implementation: http://flexcar.com/Default.aspx?tabid=495
Flexcar: http://flexcar.com/
UNC Implementation: http://www.zipcar.com/unc/check-rates
Zipcar: http://www.zipcar.com/index

Thanks for your help,

- Joe Sevits
Inter-Residence Council
Emerging Issues Committee, Chair


I'll try to post responses to your questions/comments on this thread.

4/25/2007 9:44:13 PM

i think in theory its a pretty good idea, but i wonder about the liability risks

4/25/2007 9:51:25 PM

yeah this is one of those in theory it sounds like a great idea - i'm not sure how it'd work out though if it was actually implemented - how long have the other schools been running it and what percentage of their students live on campus (with and without cars)

4/25/2007 9:53:57 PM

I believe it's a great idea. Had it been around, I would have used it a lot.

4/25/2007 9:54:37 PM

It's a great idea, and also a great liability. Make sure the ppl who use it have insurance on file, and that their insurance covers rentals. That will probably involve some manpower to keep up with that shit.

Honestly, I would've preferred having PARKING that doesn't get overrun every time there's a sports event (gee, nevermind that I PAID for the space, let's give it to baseball or softball or tennis etc. ... shit pisses me off)

4/25/2007 10:00:38 PM

this is fucking stupid and will never happen

thanks

4/25/2007 10:02:51 PM

opinions on the subject last year:


message_topic.aspx?topic=429696

4/25/2007 10:12:09 PM

UCLA has 92% of freshmen students living in on-campus housing, and 38% of total undergraduates living there. Undergrad enrollment is ~14800, of that, ~4300 are freshmen. So total on-campus is around 5625 students, ~3950 of that are freshmen.

NCSU has 74% of freshmen students living in on-campus housing, and 34% of total undergraduates living there. Since our numbers are larger for us, we have total on-campus about 7000-8000 residents in any given year, nearly all are undergrad of that population, so ~3400 freshmen are on-campus.

4/25/2007 10:14:14 PM

Honestly the only people who I can see using this are the ones who live on campus and either do not have a car, left it back home, or cannot afford a parking sticker.

4/25/2007 10:14:16 PM

who's gonna pay for the car? the maintenance of the car? and I could see some drunk students driving university-car and have an accident. I don't see how this is economically feasible without increasing student fees.

4/25/2007 10:24:46 PM

Quote :

"who's gonna pay for the car? the maintenance of the car? and I could see some drunk students driving university-car and have an accident. I don't see how this is economically feasible without increasing student fees."

If an accident occurs beyond something wear-and-tear like a dent/ding in a door or some scratching, there is a $500 insurance deductible the student would have to pay for the repairs.

Everything is done through a contracted company... only the rates for use of the service would have to be adjusted from year to year. The cost to non-users would come through increased parking sticker prices to provide dedicated spaces for the flex-cars on-campus... they would be x number of permits that Transportation would not sell. But that would be offset by benefit of having more spaces available due to not as many students having to bring cars to campus.

Gas, maintenance, and insurance are covered already in the hourly/daily rate.

[Edited on April 25, 2007 at 10:38 PM. Reason : add]

4/25/2007 10:36:50 PM

HAHAHAHAHAHA

you think that something like this

that might be beneficial to the students

where you are giving students something

that this university will take that risk

you are obviously new here because if you knew anything about this university and how they treat the students like babies

youd know that this will never ever ever happen

4/25/2007 11:34:50 PM

rental cars are a lot cheaper than $60 a day right? I rented a Corvette from Enterprise for $50/day, so there better be some nice cars for that rate

4/25/2007 11:45:33 PM

I think this is a great idea. When I was a freshman I was lucky enough to have my older brother who lived near campus and that was where I kept my car. Myself, roomie and a ton of my friends relied on my car for transportation when we wanted to get away from campus. I think if this option would have been available to us we would have used it alot. Especially if I was gone with my car and the roomie or someone else needed to use a car, etc...
I am guessing it works well at other colleges?

4/26/2007 12:09:49 AM

Well, a $5/hr car rental would be good for the kiddies who need to go to a store farther from campus, but are from out of state and didn't bring a car with them.

I doubt they'd allow it though.

4/26/2007 12:56:47 AM

Quote :

"Honestly the only people who I can see using this are the ones who live on campus and either do not have a car, left it back home, or cannot afford a parking sticker. "

That's exactly the point.

4/26/2007 1:00:24 AM

I have one acronym for this thread:

GT-350H

4/26/2007 1:36:18 AM

Quote :

"The cost to non-users would come through increased parking sticker prices to provide dedicated spaces for the flex-cars on-campus"

But why is there even a cost to non-users?

4/26/2007 7:35:36 AM

will they take board bucks?

Not that I care since I don't go to state any more, I just seem to remember all my buddies were broke so I don't know if they could pony up the $ to rent one as often as they would need.

4/26/2007 7:45:54 AM

ok this is the most retarded idea i have ever heard.

MAKE FRIENDS PEOPLE.

4/26/2007 8:06:54 AM

Quote :

"you are obviously new here because if you knew anything about this university and how they treat the students like babies"

lol... I'm a senior, and I know how bad the University is. "Back in the day," the fire alarm system in the Library once only consisted of a trusted administrator and a bull horn who would run around the stacks if something caught ablaze. Why? Not because we didn't have the money to put in a nice fire alarm system, or that the Library couldn't handle it, it was because some idiots in Holladay Hall decided students at NCSU couldn't handle pull boxes because if they had the ability to trigger the alarm themselves, they’d abuse it.

Luckily from working with administrators at NCSU, I know not all are like this anymore... hopefully they can help Student Government and others get around the resistance of those who are.

4/26/2007 8:23:09 AM

this was a huge flop at carolina and had all kinds of problems, you should look into that before you waste your time and money here

4/26/2007 8:56:40 AM

Quote :

"But why is there even a cost to non-users?"

Also, this idea is super lame. Just have available parking so students can afford to bring their cars from home, even if they are stored somewhere like the Centennial Storage lots I used my freshman year. That makes a lot more sense than this.

Quote :

"this is fucking stupid and will never happen thanks"

4/26/2007 9:02:39 AM

Yea, seems like having a big "storage" lot on centennial is a better idea. Its definitely within walking distance, and if they're lazy, they can take the bus to get to their car. But something really should be done about all those students who buy permits and park their cars on Cates ave 24/7, then only use it to get drive-through at Cook Out.

4/26/2007 9:29:54 AM

I've got a better idea. To free up parking spaces why don't we just say that freshmen are not allowed to have cars period. Infact, even as a sophomore you have to be good to get a spot. Tons of schools do it already. Then, to accommodate the newly bereft of cars, we actually make the Wolfline go to useful places.

4/26/2007 9:30:04 AM

Quote :

"Also, this idea is super lame. Just have available parking so students can afford to bring their cars from home, even if they are stored somewhere like the Centennial Storage lots I used my freshman year. That makes a lot more sense than this."

There is no reason why this couldn’t be done concurrently.

I think you’re taking the Centennial Storage lots for granted. They only became available due to a bad decision on Transportation’s part to shut down the Centennial Park-and-Ride for Fall ’07 to change it over to a EC lot for commuters, then finding they didn’t have the demand and was losing money. They then decided in Spring ’07, with NO plans to continue into Summer or Fall ’07, to open it up to the 200 residents who applied for S permits (Varsity Lot) but did not receive them because that lot was filled to capacity. I used the S lot my freshman year, but was lucky to get a space since it wasn’t advertised as something freshmen could use... you had to track down that information. -- They now have converted the CS lot into a G lot and are advertising it to staff at a more affordable rate than a C permit, to try to get them out of those zones and free up space on main campus. Depending on demand, the G lot may not be open to incoming freshmen like for spring this year, but I’m lobbying for it to be.

4/26/2007 9:35:37 AM

a lot of larger cities do this already, but is mainly geared towards people that can afford to fix/have repaired whatever damage they cause.

I think the students would take advantage of this. It would be a huge financial loss.

4/26/2007 9:39:50 AM

I think this sounds like a neat idea but I have trouble believing we would be able to convince many people not to bring cars to campus because of this.

I'm all for more environmentally-friendly options, maybe set-up a free bike rental program.

4/26/2007 9:48:16 AM

But why is there even a cost to non-users?

4/26/2007 10:40:26 AM

Fools...quit worrying about the liability. That's why they use an outside contractor to take care of it - THEY already got that figured out.

And yes, I do think students on campus would use it - a lot.

4/26/2007 12:15:25 PM

I don't like the idea of permit increase. Seems like many of the spaces dedicated to flex car would be empty b/c of under-utilization so you would pay more for less spaces.

4/26/2007 12:28:02 PM

I didn't have a car for the first 3 years of college and it was never a problem. Freshman year I was on campus and walked everywhere, the other years I used the Wolfline. In fact senior year when I got a car I still used the Wolfline.

When I needed to drive somewhere I would go with friends or borrow my roommate's car in exchange for gas money.

That being said, if you don't have any friends or are too lazy to use the wolfline, I guess I could see some people using this.

4/26/2007 1:49:45 PM

It's a good idea, but

Quote :

"just say that freshmen are not allowed to have cars period."

is also good idea would greatly facilitate this working well. I mean, lots of schools have that policy, but coupled with this, the freshmen could help alleviate the parking situation AND support your program. I doubt upperclassmen would use it as much, since most of us have cars, but it's still a good idea, and even better if the aforementioned policy was in place.

Also, the bike rental thing is a GREAT idea. If anyone wants to head that up, I will personally volunteer my time to help get it going. In fact, I think that would be a lot easier, and at this point, a more helpful solution.
]

4/26/2007 2:10:12 PM

Quote :

"this was a huge flop at carolina and had all kinds of problems, you should look into that before you waste your time and money here"

yep. not to mention they have a lot less parking available on campus for undergrads to store their cars.

4/26/2007 2:20:21 PM

This is a good idea in concept... however...

The NCSU busses already go very near the grocery stores in the area and apartments within a 5 mile radius. So... this eliminates a lot of the users you WANT to have and what remains isn't mostly what you do want.

To rent a car from enterprise you have to be 25. Period. If you are under 25 their insurance does not cover you. Read the contract you sign.

This system, while a great asset, will be hard to ensure that people do not destroy these vehicles and treat them with respect. If you make the sign up process include the drivers driving record... I'm fine with it. Sounds like a great idea. NCSU already has that system in place to check driving history of it's employees.

You'll need to be very stringent on the test phase of this. If you have any points on your license, sorry, no dealio. Once students get used to having these cars available you can lax the rules.

Also consider what should be the reprocussions if someone should get a moving violation? I think they should also do community service. People who use these cars won't be able to afford fines but they can afford community service.

Just some thoughts.

[Edited on April 26, 2007 at 2:27 PM. Reason : !]

4/26/2007 2:27:07 PM

let's get a buttload of bikes like sweden or wherever

4/26/2007 2:38:25 PM

i think this is a pretty awesome idea, even though i have a car on campus. they have hybrids available, and i'd much rather drive a hybrid 250-300 miles and get 40-50mpg than drive my car and get 20 something.

4/26/2007 2:49:43 PM

Fools again.

You don't have to be 25.

Read the websites...zipcar is aimed towards urban areas (21+) and flexcar has been used on other college campuses (18+)

*sigh*

4/26/2007 5:02:07 PM

you have to be 25 to rent a car from most other places
read the thread

4/26/2007 5:22:30 PM

Raige hey stupid I used to work at ERAC, unfortunately, and you don't have to be 25 to rent a car. I've rented to people as young as 18, on insurance replacement. But straight up rental, you can do it if your 21-25 and have a credit card (NOT DEBIT) in your name or a debit card and full coverage insurance that can verifiably transfer to the rental. If your under 21 though, your screwed, unless your car was in a wreck and the insurance company was paying for your rental.

This idea though is kinda pointless. Most rental car companies now will pick you up and rent a compact car for like $20/day on weekends and 30 on weekdays. Then when your done they will drop you back off at your dorm. This is a better idea because you schedule an appointment, they come get you and do the paperwork and you leave, and it DOESN'T TAKE UP MORE FUCKING PARKING!

Guth read what he said. Raige said Enterprise = Age 25 to rent PERIOD and thats WRONG.

[Edited on April 26, 2007 at 5:38 PM. Reason : ]

4/26/2007 5:38:13 PM

How about doing something useful with the money that's going to go to this thing and build another parking deck somewhere, how about a part of West Lot? or the University could buy out the ValPark lots and build a nice 3 or 4 level deck there, though it would all be on west campus it'd be a decent solution. Much more useful I think plus it might bring the cost of permits down a little.

4/27/2007 12:20:50 AM