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Zipcar, the world’s leading car sharing network, today announced its official launch in Tampa through partnerships with the Barrymore Hotel Tampa Riverwalk, Skyhouse Channelside Apartments and the Downtown Tampa Partnership.
Six new Zipcars are now available downtown by the hour or by the day. The vehicles are parked in designated spots for convenient pick-up and drop-off and can be reserved in seconds on Zipcar’s mobile app, or online and over the phone.
"We are happy to partner with Zipcar to provide total transportation solutions for our citizens,” said City Council Chairman Mike Suarez. “With HART, ride-sharing services, traditional taxi cabs, and now Zipcar, we’ll be able to expand the city’s transportation landscape."
The official launch in Tampa builds on successful Zipcar programs at the University of Tampa, the Tampa International Airport and the Tampa Westshore Marriott. With members already using Zipcar in Tampa, the company was eager expand to the downtown area to provide more residents and visitors with convenient access to wheels where they live, work and play.
“Zipcar is thrilled to be launching our ‘wheels when you want them’ car sharing service in Tampa,” said Smokshane West, Zipcar Florida market manager. “Area residents and visitors now have all the benefits of car ownership without the cost and hassles, while helping the city reduce congestion and alleviate parking demand.”
The six new Zipcars bring the Tampa fleet to a total of 14 vehicles, including a Subaru Crosstrek named “Cannon,” great for a weekend getaway to Clearwater Beach, a Toyota Prius called “Vernice” to zip to the grocery store and a BMW X3 named “Blacklocks” for a night out at the Straz Center for the Performing Arts. Each reservation includes gas, insurance and 180 miles of driving per day, making it a great option for those looking for ways to save money on the high cost of car ownership.
“We are very excited to have Zipcars at the Skyhouse Channelside Apartments,” said Andy Vance, senior vice president, Novare Group. “Our residents and the entire Channelside community look forward to having access to a vehicle right at our front doorstep.”
“We know our guests at the Barrymore Hotel Tampa Riverwalk want the most convenient and hassle-free way to enjoy their stay and Zipcar offers just that,” said Larry Collier, director of hotel operations, H.I. Development Corp. “And as an environmentally-conscious business, we appreciate that car sharing programs can reduce the amount of vehicles on the road, demand for gasoline and air pollution.”
Local businesses in Tampa can benefit from Zipcar’s presence through the Zipcar for Business (Z4B) program, which offers discounted driving rates Monday through Friday. The Z4B program helps businesses save money, meet environmental sustainability goals and reduce parking requirements by providing employees with access to Zipcar for business needs and other uses.
In addition to the vehicles in Tampa, Zipcar members can reserve and drive vehicles located in twelve other Florida cities as well as the 12,000 vehicles in the company’s global fleet.
Prospective members can join the service instantly on Zipcar’s mobile app.
About Zipcar
Zipcar (zipcar.com) is the world’s leading car sharing network, driven by a mission to enable simple and responsible urban living. With its wide variety of self-service vehicles available by the hour or day, Zipcar operates in urban areas and university campuses in over 500 cities and towns across Austria, Canada, France, Germany, Spain, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States. Zipcar offers the most comprehensive, most convenient and most flexible car sharing options available. Zipcar is a subsidiary of Avis Budget Group, Inc., a leading global provider of vehicle rental services.
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kchesley[.]zipcar.com 
