Zipcar To The Rescue
New car-sharing program readies for downtown Dallas launch
A new car-sharing service is rolling into Dallas this month, and unlike its cousins Uber and Lyft, Zipcar is doing so with nary a controversy in tow. Zipcar, which rents out vehicles by the hour and the day, will launch a pilot program in downtown Dallas on September 23.
The app-based car-sharing service will park six vehicles in three City of Dallas parking lots: Pioneer Plaza, Oak Lawn Library and Lamar (which is under Woodall Rodgers Freeway).
Drivers gain access to Zipcars by swiping their membership card across the dashboard — no keys required. Zipcars are already available at University of Texas at Dallas, SMU and Dallas Love Field airport.
In a September 12 memo to Dallas City Council members, first assistant city manager Ryan Evans cited a recent urban study that showed one car-sharing vehicle replaced 32 privately owned cars. "Car-sharing can help reduce the number of vehicles in an urban area, while allowing people to access a car for occasional use," Evans said.
Zipcar memberships start at $50 a year, and rental fees range from $9 per hour to $69 per day. The cost includes gas, insurance and 180 miles worth of travel.
David and Melissa Loder's Elf Town is on Penbrook Court in the Deerfield subdivision of Plano. Photo courtesy of David and Melissa Loder 