I remember hearing about Zipcar when it started in San Francisco (IIRC). Anyway they started using it at Duke. I know I could have used one my first couple undergrad years. Would be cool to see it expand to other schools around here.

http://www.dukenews.duke.edu/2009/01/zipcar.html

thoughts?

1/23/2009 12:49:16 AM

My friends in Seattle use it all the time. It seems like a good service I guess.

1/23/2009 1:30:19 AM

up here in DC metro area they are everythere. not sure if it would work well in NC, mass transit still sux and makes zipcar ineffective for most ppl. pricing is right and the cars are kinda fun

1/23/2009 2:50:20 AM

they have had them at UNC for at least 3 years now.

1/23/2009 2:53:35 AM

i use them here in nyc to get to job sites and meetings that aren't easily accessible by cab/train.

1/23/2009 8:20:11 AM

we have spots at ga tech for them, of course the culture is different here in atlanta but they seem to be successful

1/23/2009 8:54:44 AM

Quote :

"up there in DC metro area they are everythere. not sure if it would work well in NC, mass transit still sux and makes zipcar ineffective for most ppl. pricing is right and the cars are kinda fun"

1/23/2009 10:12:56 AM

I used a zipcar several times while at UNC. Wish they had them at NCSU but oh well. They put a daily mileage limit on them after several people used them to drive to Charlotte and back for job interviews or what not.

1/23/2009 10:23:55 AM

i saw them in DC this past weekend. from what I understand of the business model, it sounds stupid especially in a place like DC with mass transportation.

1/23/2009 2:43:02 PM

actually they're incredibly useful up here in DC

for those of us that got rid of cars, they're perfect to take mass transportation to in order to make a run out to do errands for an afternoon or whatever

tells me you dont really understand the business model, like you generally don't understand most things on here

1/23/2009 2:57:49 PM

there's a different company / same concept that's in place in my area, philly/north delaware

a pickup spot across the street from my house actually

it seems to get a lot of use, but the price is kinda detracting

1/23/2009 3:14:13 PM

i pay $50/yr flat fee and then like $7-9 hour for worry free errand running, which I do maybe every other month...there is a huge niche market here in the DC metro area for that exact customer.

beats the HELL out of a loan payment/gas/insurance/maint costs

1/23/2009 3:18:50 PM

Yup, with what parking alone costs in DC you can get one for several hours a week to go run errands. I didn't have a car when I was in Chapel Hill, so I'd ride my bicycle to the zip car then go run errands or pick someone up from the airport.

1/23/2009 3:23:11 PM

Quote :

"actually they're incredibly useful up here in DC for those of us that got rid of cars, they're perfect to take mass transportation to in order to make a run out to do errands for an afternoon or whatever tells me you dont really understand the business model, like you generally don't understand most things on here"

Ok, so what you are telling me is, its perfect in DC because:

1) you take mass transit to the car
2) drive the car and run errands around town
3) get back on mass transit to go home

yup, makes a lot of sense You can skip 2) and save yourself $$$

but then again I never expect any of your posts to make sense...dumb IRL = dumb on TWW....

1/23/2009 6:22:48 PM

Nope, you are being dumb RSX.

You buy a bunch of heavy crap, drop it off at home, then go return the car. Then your chips don't get squished on the bus, and you don't have bus drivers yelling at you and no carrying several 12 packs of soda several blocks home from the bus stop.

1/23/2009 7:05:30 PM

haha i just saw RSX's response


hahaHAHAHAHAHAHAHAahahahAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

[Edited on March 3, 2009 at 8:24 AM. Reason : and i can't believe lewoods made sense ]

3/3/2009 8:23:48 AM

Quote :

"You can skip 2) and save yourself $$$"

Not everything is easily accessible by mass transit. For example, where I was living for the past two years, for me to get to a non-shitty supermarket would either be:

1) 20 minutes on the train, 40 minute walk to the supermarket.
2) 20 minute car ride.

Thus in that situation the mass transit was pretty much worthless to me, especially if I was stocking up and buying a lot of heavy/perishable items.

3/3/2009 8:39:03 AM

nyc has great public transportation but tons of people use them.

3/3/2009 11:41:43 AM

I wonder how bad teh waitlist is to get the zipcar

3/3/2009 12:02:24 PM