Roll Out the Red Carpet: Zipcar Goes to Hollywood

Convenient, affordable transportation option aims to reduce parking demand, emissions and congestion

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Dec 16, 2010, 02:14 ET

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Dec. 16, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Zipcar Inc., the world's largest car sharing service, today joined Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, City Council President Eric Garcetti and the City of Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT) to announce Zipcar's expansion into Hollywood. The expansion will provide both Angelenos and visitors with increased access to affordable, convenient transportation options that are proven to reduce congestion and emissions. The new cars are an extension of the pilot partnership originally launched between Zipcar and The City of Los Angeles in September 2009.

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Ten cars have been added in Hollywood, bringing the total number of LA Zipcars to 75, located throughout the city and near local university campuses, including Loyola Marymount University, Occidental College, the University of Southern California (USC) and the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).

The cars will have reserved on-street parking spots in five locations throughout Hollywood. Zipcar, the LADOT and Council District 13 worked closely together to determine locations for the cars in areas with heavy foot traffic and access to public transportation, including bus lines and Metro stops, to offer high levels of convenience for area members.

"By expanding the partnership between Zipcar and The City of Los Angeles, we are providing a viable alternative to car ownership which will reduce the city's traffic congestion and improve our air quality," said Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. "Together, we are setting the wheels in motion for a greener, more sustainable Los Angeles."

"Hollywood has always been a place where anything is possible - even living and working in Los Angeles without owning a car. With new Zipcar locations throughout the area, residents and tourists alike now have another convenient transportation option," said Los Angeles City Council President Eric Garcetti.

As an environmentally friendly transportation option, Zipcar will help to reduce Hollywood's carbon footprint. National studies have shown that each car shared takes 15 privately owned vehicles off the road, and that vehicle miles traveled per driver is reduced almost 50 percent when car owners switch to car sharing. Zipcar will also support the local economy as the majority of the cars in the Los Angeles market are bought and serviced locally.

"Zipcar's expansion into Hollywood will help support the city's efforts to make transportation options more efficient, economical and more sustainable," said Amir Sedadi, Acting General Manager, City of Los Angeles, Department of Transportation.

"We applaud The City of Los Angeles and its commitment to embracing innovative transportation options. The success of our programs in Westwood Village and the North University Park area show that it's possible to live in LA without relying solely on a car," said Dan Grossman, Zipcar's regional vice president, West Coast. "Zipcar wants to be a star in Hollywood. As we looked to expand our vehicle locations in Los Angeles to meet our growing Zipster base, Hollywood was the logical location."

Zipcar will have five pods of two cars located in Hollywood, including locations on Vine Street between Sunset Boulevard and Selma Avenue, as well as at the intersections of Hollywood Boulevard and North Western Avenue, Wilcox Avenue and Sunset Boulevard, North Highland Avenue and Yucca Street and at the intersection of Hollywood Boulevard and Ivar Avenue.

Gas, reserved parking spots, insurance, roadside assistance and up to 180 miles per day are included in the hourly and daily Zipcar rates. Cars can be reserved for as short as an hour or for up to four days. Rates on all vehicles start as low $8 per hour and $66 per day (24 hours) on weekdays and $9 per hour and $72 per day (24 hours) on weekends.

For more information, including how to become a Zipcar member, please visit: www.zipcar.com/la .

About Zipcar

Zipcar is the world's leading car-sharing service with more than 500,000 members and 8,000 vehicles in urban areas and college campuses throughout the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. Zipcar offers more than 30 makes and models of self-service vehicles by the hour or day to residents and businesses looking for an alternative to the high costs and hassles of owning a car. More information is available at www.zipcar.com.

Zipcar and the Zipcar logo are trademarks of Zipcar, Inc.

SOURCE Zipcar Inc.