Community Car coming soon to UW-Madison
The Office of Transportation Services, in partnership with the Community Car organization, is bringing a car-sharing program to campus.
Community Car is a member-based organization that provides cars by the hour for individuals and businesses. Members share access to a fleet of high-gas-mileage and hybrid-electric vehicles in reserved parking locations throughout the city.
The Helen C. White parking garage (Area 6) will be the cars’ home on campus, with service scheduled to begin on Monday, March 1. Transportation Services will provide a limited number of free trial options, good for five free hours and 50 free miles, to those interested in trying out the program.
Transportation Services director Lance Lunsway says Community Car is a welcome transportation option and is likely to reduce some of the need for additional parking on campus, saving the university money that can be used for other projects.
“Along with the free bus pass and other transportation options, car sharing gives university employees more freedom to use alternative transportation, but to still have a car with which to run errands,” says Lunsway. “And with Community Car, several people can use one stall, so the need for more parking lots is reduced.”
Community Car provides an affordable and reliable vehicle for occasional use. Faculty and staff can save money on parking and gas by taking the bus, carpooling, walking or biking to work – yet not give up the freedom of a car during the workday. Graduate students can enjoy access to a car for meeting friends across town and late-night trips to the grocery store.
Rebecca Cors, a graduate student in the Gaylord Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies, is a Community Car member.
“I bike to work, but occasionally need a car during the day for running errands or meeting friends on my lunch break. It’s easier and so much more affordable to use a Community Car when I want a vehicle instead of paying the high cost for a parking space and maintaining a car,” says Cors.
To use Community Car, Cors will log on to www.communitycar.com and reserve one. When it is time for her reservation, she will walk to the Community Car located at the Helen C. White parking ramp, access a key code and drive away. When she is done with her meeting or running errands, she will bring the car back to its reserved parking space. At the end of the month, she will be billed for the hours and miles she has driven.
“Community Car is a great fit for employees and graduate students at UW,” says Sonya Newenhouse, founder and vice president of Community Car. “We offer an affordable transportation alternative that enhances the convenience of bus, bike and carpool programs, and we’re excited about working with Transportation Services to bring the benefits of car sharing to the university.”
Those who would like to learn more about how it works and sign up for a free trial are encouraged to attend one of the following informational sessions co-sponsored by Transportation Services’ TDM program and Community Car:
- Thursday, Feb. 19, 5-6 p.m., Memorial Union
- Thursday, Feb. 26, 7-8 p.m., Union South
- Tuesday, March 2, 5-6 p.m., Memorial Union
- Wednesday, March 3, 12:30-1:30 p.m., Memorial Union
- Thursday, March 11, 12:30-1:30 p.m., Memorial Union
For more information on Community Car’s service to campus or how to receive a free trial option, contact Amanda White at (608) 204-0000 or amanda@communitycar.com. For more information on transportation options for UW–Madison employees, visit www.fpm.wisc.edu/tdm.