Toronto Gets City's First-Ever, On-Street Car-Sharing Location through
Partnership with Zipcar

Program reduces parking demand and brings sustainable, economic transportation options to residents of Toronto

TORONTO , Jan. 19 /CNW/ - Zipcar, Inc., the world's largest car-sharing service, and the City of Toronto will now provide city residents easier access to cost-effective, environmentally friendly transportation options by parking Zipcars on select city streets. A Toyota Matrix Zipcar named "Macall", the first of 11 total dedicated Zipcars to be parked across the city, is now available at the intersection of Harrison Garden Boulevard and Humberstone Drive.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100119/NE39517 )

"The City's partnership with Zipcar makes it easier for people who live and work in our city to get around without owning a car," said Toronto Councillor John Filion . "I'm pleased to have the first car in this program located in my Ward so our residents not only can save money, but also enjoy less traffic and less pollution."

Studies have shown that each Zipcar replaces between 15 and 20 personally owned vehicles, and that Zipcar members increase their use of public transit and reduce overall driving, helping to reduce parking demand, congestion and emissions. Zipcar members also report saving more than US $600 per month compared to owning a car. By providing parking locations on city streets, the City Council makes it more convenient and more accessible for more people to use the service, ultimately accelerating the congestion, parking demand and emissions benefits of car sharing.

"We know that car sharing is successful when our cars are conveniently located just around the corner or across the street," said Michael Lende, general manager for Zipcar Toronto . "Thanks to the leadership shown by Councillor Filion and the City Council, many more residents of Toronto have a Zipcar located nearby."

In addition to the Harrison Garden Boulevard location, Zipcar will add 10 vehicles to more on-street parking locations in the downtown core in the next two months. Locations will include the intersections of Emily Street & Wellington Street, Mutual Street & Dundas Street, Ed Mirvish Way & King Street , Gould Street near Dalhousie Street, Jordan Street & King Street , and two additional cars in the North York neighborhood, whose locations are to be determined.

"Zipcar provides affordable and sustainable transportation options for our residents - something we know they value," said Bruce Armstrong , Secretary/Treasurer of the Avondale Community Condominium Association, which represents 15 condominiums near the first Zipcar on-street location. "The availability of Zipcar will help us reduce the demand for parking and improve the livability of our neighborhood."

Zipcars are available by the hour or by the day to members, who can reserve a car via phone, online or a mobile device. A simple hourly fee as low as $7 /hour includes parking in the reserved spot, gas, insurance, 200 free kilometers daily and 24/7 roadside assistance.

"Having a Zipcar across the street from my apartment is the ultimate in convenience, and allows me to live in the city without owning a car," said Chafic Filfili, a Zipcar member since 2007. "Instead of car payments, I'm able to spend more money on going out to eat, concerts, hanging out with my friends."

About Zipcar

Zipcar is the world's leading car-sharing service with 350,000 members and 6,500 vehicles in urban areas and college campuses throughout 28 North American states and provinces as well as in London , England. As a leader in urban transportation, Zipcar offers more than 30 makes and models of self-service vehicles by the hour or day to savvy city residents and businesses looking for an alternative to the high costs and hassles of owning a car in the city. More information is available at www.zipcar.com.

Zipcar and the Zipcar logo are trademarks of Zipcar, Inc. Other company and product names may be trademarks of their respective owners.

/NOTE TO PHOTO EDITORS: A photo accompanying this release is available at http://photos.newswire.ca. Images are free to accredited members of the media/

For further information: Nancy Scott, Zipcar, [phone], [email protected]