Gone are the days of car-less students depending on bicycles or walking to get around Burlington. Later this fall Elon will partner with Zipcars to bring the pay-and-go car rental system to campus, says Gerald Whittington, vice president for business, finance and technology.

Zipcars provides towns, companies and campuses with on-the-spot car rentals, available for hours or days at a time. An approved online application and annual $35 fee secure a year’s membership with the Web site.

After applicants are accepted, the user will receive a “Zipcard,” a key resembling the Phoenix cards that Elon students use already, in the mail. From here, members can choose to reserve a car either over the phone or online.

Once the reservation is made, the vehicle is wirelessly programmed for immediate usage. The vehicle is then found ready and waiting in a designated on-campus location for its driver. Flashing the “Zipcard” in front of the windshield is all it takes to unlock the doors. The keys to the engine can be found inside.

From there, the driver is given $35 of free driving and up to four days to use the car at their own leisure before returning it to the drop-off spot. A gas card that stays inside the vehicle allows users to fill up the car without spending their own money and routine maintenance is also completed and paid for by the Zipcars Corporation.

Zipcar drivers are also provided with complimentary 24-hour roadside service.

More than 20 colleges across the country have already added Zipcars to their campus.

“They’re convenient and easy to use,” said Katherine Frost, of Wellesley College. “It saves a ton of money on parking fees and helps those of us who don’t have a car to begin with.”

A study conducted by Zipcars found that 10 percent of university Zipcar drivers said they would have to bring their car to campus if Zipcar did not exist. Fewer cars on campus would mean fewer parking issues, as well as a decrease in the possible need for more parking spots in the future.

Elon students should look for Zipcars on campus within the next couple of months.

Reporter: Liz Palmer - 09/12/07