Zipcar Car-Sharing Service To Launch New Pickup Location At Water Street Parking Garage

New London, Connecticut (July 29, 2015) – The New London Parking Authority has contracted with Zipcar, a global membership-based car sharing service, to create a new pick-up location at Water Street Garage. The service will launch Saturday, August 1 with two shared cars available, a number that will grow as membership and usage increases.

Zipcar originated in Boston in 2000 and has since expanded to hundreds of cities and universities in the U.S. as well as Canada and Europe. In Connecticut, Zipcar has popped up in several locations including New Haven, Hartford, Bridgeport and Middletown.

Getting on the road with Zipcar is simple. Those interested can become a member on Zipcar’s website for a monthly fee. In a few short days, new “Zipsters” receive their “Zipcard” by mail that gives them exclusive 24/7 access to the service’s “wheels when you want them.” In minutes, members can reserve a vehicle for as little as an hour to as long as week by phone, online, or through the company’s smartphone app. Members then pick up the vehicle at the designated location.

“Zipcars are a great addition to our transportation center,” said Mayor Daryl Justin Finizio. “They will make it easier for visitors arriving by train or ferry to see all of New London, and they will enable more residents to save money by living car-free or with fewer cars per household.”

In New London, Zipcars will be parked in marked spaces adjacent to the exit and office of the Water Street Garage, conveniently located in the downtown waterfront district, a short distance from many shops, restaurants and attractions as well as train and ferry stations. Unlocking the vehicle with their Zipcard or mobile app, Zipsters can take the car anywhere they need to go for the duration of their reservation. Gas, insurance, and up to 180 miles per day are all included in the membership and reservation fees.

“The Zipcar service was a natural expansion to New London’s transportation center that currently includes parking, trains, buses and ferry services. More people are coming to the city for short periods of time and have requested cars being available.” said Joseph Celli, Propark’s Special Project Director at New London’s Water Street Parking Garage. “They need a car for a few hours or a day, and Zipcar is an affordable and easy way to provide that.”

The new Zipcar service will provide residents and visitors with an easy way to get around town, as well as a chance to take part in the company’s mission of responsible and sustainable urban living. Studies have found that one shared car replaces an average of 15 cars on the road and decreases the number of miles driven by 40 percent, thus reducing CO2 emissions.

For more information or to become a member, visit www.zipcar.com or call 1‑866‑4ZIPCAR. Information about Water Street Garage can be found at newlondonparking.com or by phone at 860-443-1775.