Brennan Clark ’06 did not live at the beach for his senior year because he did not have a car.
But he said that if Fairfield had offered Zipcar, a new service that many universities across the nation are using, he would have reconsidered it.
“It would have been great for me,” he said. “I would have been able to get from the beach to campus without being forced to buy a car.”
Zipcar is a rentable vehicle available to students.
Universities in high traffic or crime areas have decided that sharing cars limits congestion while helping students get around.
Clark felt that the service would reduce the students’ problems with finding parking spots on campus as well.
Statistics show that the average car sits parked 20 to 23 hours a day.
For many city students, a car on campus would spend more time being subjected to risks of vandalism than actually being used.
In comparison to city-based schools such as Northeastern, Boston College, Georgetown, American University and many more where main vehicle concerns involve vandalism and theft, Fairfield students have reason to feel worry-free in regards to their vehicle’s safety.
The most common vehicle regulations violated by Fairfield students, according to Director of Public Safety Todd Pelazza, is parking in spots prohibited by their color-coded sticker and failing to register one’s car entirely.
However, most cars on Fairfield’s campus are simply sitting in parking spots, taking up space.
With Zipcar memberships, universities cut down on traffic, require fewer parking spots, reduce vehicle violations, and save the expenses of actually owning a car or renting through a conventional company.
“I see [Zipcars] all over the streets,” said a Boston College public safety officer.
According to the officer, many older students, graduate students, and even faculty members utilize the rentals.
While Zipcar prides itself on offering better rates and rewards than most traditional car rental companies, it does uphold one traditional and inconvenient rule: members must be 21 or older.
This rule restricts freshmen, sophomores, many juniors and even a few seniors from reaping the benefits of Zipcar.
Gregg Surette ’06 said Fairfield should buy several cars that it could rent out to students.
“The Jesuit residence on campus offers priests this service,” he said. “Why can’t it be expanded to include students, too?”
But Pelazza said that the university has not found an immediate use for the Zipcar.
“The campus really is designed to be a pedestrian campus,” he said.
The Parking and Vehicle registration guidelines state: “Walking, bicycles, or the campus shuttle are the primary means for getting around campus. It is approximately a 15-minute walk from one end of the campus to another.”
But students say getting off campus is just as important.
“When I was a freshman and sophomore without a car, I had a very hard time getting around off-campus,” said Caitlin Ledwith ’07. “I think the university tends to forget that we can’t spend every moment on campus.”
“Even just simple trips around town, without worrying about whether the shuttle will pick you up, are refreshing,” she said.
An advertisement for Zipcar on a Boston street reads, “The car for people who don’t want one.”
Once a university has created an account with Zipcar, students and faculty can register for a membership online which only takes only minutes to complete, assuming all driving backgrounds meet safety standards.
Once approved, each member receives his or her own Zipcard which acts as a membership card, a gas card and an electronic key.
Joining and rental fees vary among each school, but discounted rates are usually offered. Boston College offers a discounted annual membership of $25, thereafter charging $8 to $13 per hour once on the road.
Included in each membership is insurance coverage, access to a live support center, maintenance fees and 24/7 roadside assistance.
Reserving one of the 400 vehicles located at the registered schools is as easy as going online or making a phone call at least an hour in advance.
While Fairfield has yet to give in to the trend, many students are left wishing for the service.
“It’s an idea that’s already on campus,” said Surette. “We don’t necessarily need to hire Zipcar.”
“We could call it Stagcar.”
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