A nonprofit car-sharing organization that began six years ago in Philadelphia and has since expanded to more than 16 outlying suburbs, PhillyCarShare will add Newark to its growing list of communities served when it deploys a Toyota Prius for local use this fall.
“The idea of the car share program is to improve the environment while liberating people financially,” said Heather Kemp, a marketing project manager with PhillyCarShare who was staffing an information table Monday. “The service is especially great for college students, because while it often doesn't make sense for a student to bring a car to campus, every so often the need for a car arises for grocery shopping or trips to Target or Ikea.”
Also, because the service is free to join, Kemp added that even students who are uncertain about what their transportation needs will be can sign up with no financial risk.
“Students can either go online or sign up right here,” Kemp said, “and within 10 days of being approved, they will receive a key fob in the mail that will enable them to access the entire fleet of PhillyCarShare vehicles.”
Then, when the need for wheels is imminent, registered members can reserve a car online or by phone for a $3.90 per hour rental rate that includes gas, premium insurance coverage, 24-hour roadside assistance and parking.
“The word is getting out, and response at the University has been good,” she said, adding that as demand rises more cars besides the Prius will be deployed to Newark.
For more information on PhillyCarShare or to sign up for the program online, visit [www.phillycarshare.org].
Anyone from the University and Newark communities who signs up for a PhillyCarShare membership by midnight, July 31, using the code “DelaWorld0708” will receive a $20 driving credit that is good through the 2008-09 academic year at UD.
Article by Becca Hutchinson
Photos by Tyler Jacobson, AS '06