Make room for two new Zipcars in downtown Ann Arbor's fleet
Ann Arbor will have six short-term rental cars in the growing shared-transportation program, after the Downtown Development Authority voted Wednesday to sponsor the two new vehicles.
"We've had good success with the Zipcars," said John Mouat, chairman of the Downtown Development Authority's Transportation Committee. "I think more of us have seen the Zipcars zipping around all over."
Nancy Shore, director of getDowntown Ann Arbor, made a case before the DDA board on Wednesday for expanding the fleet of Zipcars in Ann Arbor from by sponsoring two more cars. The board voted 11-1 to make that happen.
Shore said the latest request for a DDA subsidy will be the last as Zipcars expand in the city.
"We have gotten it up and running," Shore said. "It is successful."
According to the DDA website, "Zipcar is a growing company that provides hourly car rental services to universities and downtowns throughout the nation."
Last December, the DDA approved a request from the getDowntown program to provide
four metered parking spaces and to cover the cost of having four Zipcars in downtown Ann Arbor. Others in Ann Arbor are sponsored by the University of Michigan.
The DDA agreed to pay up to $1,500 a month per car in guaranteed revenue to Zipcar. But as patrons pay to use the Zipcars, the actual amount paid by the DDA at the end of each month is reduced proportionately.
DDA officials said that demand for the downtown Zipcars, which became available in mid-March, has been so strong that the DDA has paid  $3,260 out of a possible $42,000 for the past seven months.
The DDA increased the Zipcar fleet to six vehicles by sponsoring two
additional downtown Zipcars at a maximum cost of $1,500 a month, again with the actual cost to the DDA reduced as patrons pay to use the Zipcars. The DDA will make available two additional public parking spaces as well.
DDA board member Russ Collins was the only to vote against the expanded sponsorship. Collins said it was a great idea to invest to help get the Zipcars up and running, but now that the business is going strong the company should expand on its own.
Zipcars, available by the hour or day, can be reserved by phone or online. Ann Arbor businesses with five or more drivers receive discounted memberships, according to the Web site.Â
Ryan J. Stanton covers government for AnnArbor.com. Reach him at ryanstanton@annarbor.com or 734-623-2529.
Comments
DeeAA
Fri, Apr 15, 2011 : 2:39 p.m.
Also, they allow you 180 miles per day, or rental period, and Zipcar pays for the gas as well as the insurance. For certain drivers this is really a good deal.
DeeAA
Fri, Apr 15, 2011 : 2:26 p.m.
A family member lives in Washington DC and uses Zipcar. It is way less expensive to use Zipcar than buying a car, paying for insurance and maintenance, not to mention the difficulty of finding a parking space. In DC there are care all over town, easy to get to, and with their own parking spaces. The person who thinks it is cheaper to drive your own if you don't use a car much, is just plain wrong. I think he/she must not be thinking of insurance and maintenance costs. Of course, you do need to plan ahead for you trip needs. Even getting one for a week for a vacation trip can be less expensive. It all depends upon your daily driving needs.
Nancy Shore
Mon, Oct 12, 2009 : 8:39 a.m.
Juliew, We're still figuring out where the downtown Zipcars will be located. If you have any suggestions, please email them to info@getdowntown.org
DeeAA
Fri, Apr 15, 2011 : 2:40 p.m.
To find cars in Ann Arbor go to <a href="http://www.zipcar.com/annarbor/find-cars" rel='nofollow'>http://www.zipcar.com/annarbor/find-cars</a>
yohan
Thu, Oct 8, 2009 : 3:50 p.m.
I looked into Zip Cars and found that they are just too expensive. For what it would cost me to join and drive a car for a few hours a day on two or three days a week, I found it would be cheaper to own and operate my own vehicle.
Linda Peck
Thu, Oct 8, 2009 : 3:06 p.m.
It is unfortunate that the city chooses to support private business in this way. Zipcars should be forced to make it on their own, as the rest of business owners do, or should do.
Juliew
Thu, Oct 8, 2009 : 2:07 p.m.
Any idea yet where the two new cars will be located?
uawisok
Thu, Oct 8, 2009 : 1:32 p.m.
I'd rather ride the bus and read a book than add yet another car(s) too the traffic congestion already at hand.
xmo
Thu, Oct 8, 2009 : 12:17 p.m.
Maybe we should eliminate the AATA (Biodisel Buses, etc) and just have Zipcars or taxi zipcars for those who don't drive. It would be cheaper than our bus service.