Thanks to a recent change in policy, students 18 years and older now have access to Brown's expanded Zipcar fleet.
Brown and Zipcar signed a contract in April lowering the age for members from 21 and adding two new vehicles to the University's original collection of three. According to Elizabeth Gentry, assistant vice president of financial and administrative services, the previous age restriction of 21 was the University's policy, and other schools were already allowing students to rent cars at 18.
Zipcar spokeswoman Marian Martinez said that because younger drivers bring on added liability, contracts differ depending on the age group each university opts to include. "Basically it nails down to insurance issues," she said.
Zipcar suggested the change in order to include a larger portion of the college-age market, Gentry said.
The Zipcars at Brown are open to any community members registered with Zipcar, but those unaffiliated with the University are held to Zipcar's 21-and-over rental policy.
Some Brown students are already taking advantage of the change. After about half its members graduated last year, the equestrian team needed a new way to carpool to its practice site about 15 minutes from campus.
Dakota Gruener '11 said she heard about the new Zipcar policy from a student athletic group. "I signed up for Zipcar the second it became available," Gruener, 18, said.
Gruener said she felt last year that most people didn't know what Zipcar was, but she said now student use seems to be spreading. When she mentions Zipcar to people, Gruener said, they immediately want to sign up. "It's kind of bad for me," she said, since Brown has just five cars available near campus.
Zipcar has cars in cities across the United States, as well as in Canada and the United Kingdom. According to the company's Web site, where community members and students can apply to join Zipcar, membership is $30 a year for Brown staff, faculty and students.
After obtaining a Zipcard, members pay to use the cars by the hour or by the day, but tolls and gas are included.
