"Our goal is to provide students with freedom, convenience, and transportation. We want to be seen as a utility in the area, so that's why we're doing this for students," he continued.
Zipcar also is responsible for gas, parking, and insurance costs. A gas card is available in the car visor and may be used at any gas station which uses the card, which is just about "99.9 percent," of them, according to Malloy, in many different locations.
Twenty different types of vehicles are available, including pickup trucks, luxury cars such as BMWs and Volvos, SUVs, electric cars, hybrids, and utility cars such as Gulfs, Jettas, or Honda Elements.
"You get to choose the car based on your mood or need," stated Malloy.
He further noted that Zipcar changes the way people transport themselves, thus making it an environmentally friendly service.
"People are using the cars less, and we maintain them very well. When they are well maintained, they end up using less gas," he said.
Malloy notes that thousands of Zipcar members are college students, and that a number of area universities have several thousands members within their student bodies.
Should a driver obtain a ticket while driving a Zipcar, the sole responsibility falls on the driver. In terms of accidents, Zipcar does have special programs.
"There is a deductible that you would have to pay if you got in an accident," said Malloy. "It's a $1,000 deductible, but we split it with members, so you only have to pay $500."
He also notes that most credit cards have deductible waivers associated with them, so in some cases, a deductible may not need to be paid.
"Zipcar is one of the many ways people can get around town. We're not saying you shouldn't take the T or ride a bike or walk. What we're saying is this is a transportation option, and students should take it when they need to go places where they can't ride a bike, walk, or take the T," stated Malloy.
"You can list 30 or 40 things that we know students use Zipcar for - going home for the weekend, seeing a friend across town, or going to pick up supplies," he added. Malloy encouraged students to visit the Web site for more information.
Spring Break
