PORTLAND, Maine, Jan. 8, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- U Car Share is expanding its growth as it partners with the city of Portland by launching the alternative to vehicle ownership. U Car Share allows multiple users to share one vehicle, thus reducing an individual's environmental impact and allowing members to save thousands of dollars a year. Members pay only for what they use, in one low hourly rate. U Car Share takes care of fuel, insurance and maintenance costs.
A photo accompanying this release is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=5752
As the demand for parking grows in Portland and resources remain limited for additional parking on city streets, Portland has found a creative and innovative solution to the problem: The answer is car sharing. Car sharing meets the needs of residents while being sensitive to the surrounding community and environment. Car sharing reduces the demand for parking and results in greater sustainability.
U Car Share vehicles are positioned for easy access and are within walking distance of the CAT Ferry and Portland Public Library. U Car Share has four EPA SmartWay-certified PT Cruisers. Two vehicles will be parked on Commercial Street to the east of the intersection of the Maine State Pier. The other two vehicles will be parked on Elm Street adjacent to the Portland Public Library. These locations were selected in conjunction with city officials for their convenience, as the sites link up with two major public transportation hubs: METRO and CBITD.
The city of Porltand will be hosting a grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony to introduce the launch of U Car Share on Friday, January 9, 2009 at 12:30 p.m. at Commercial Street to the east of the intersection of the Maine State Pier.
Prequalified members access the vehicle with a U Car Share membership card, also referred to as a SmartCard. The SmartCard will grant the member access to the car they reserve, at the time and the location at which the vehicle was reserved. For a limited time, membership is free (a $50 value), Log on to ucarshare.com to sign up for a free membership today and use the following promotion code MAINEPRESSRELEASE2009. (This promo code is case sensitive and will expire on February 28, 2009.).
"U Car Share is the perfect extension of our business model. U-Haul has been in the truck-sharing business for more than 61 years," exclaimed Jeffrey Vaine, president, U-Haul Company of New Hampshire and Maine. "Helping to create greater sustainability through shared-use vehicles is just another way of showing our commitment to our community."
"Car sharing is an essential component of our public transportation system," affirmed City Councilor and Transportation Committee Chair Kevin Donoghue. "It costs the city absolutely nothing and has the capability to save our residents a great deal of money on transportation costs."
Research shows that car sharing is great for the environment. Every shared car on the road can replace up to 15 personally owned vehicles. This means that fewer cars will need to be manufactured, fewer cars will be on the road and the community's carbon footprint will be reduced. Car sharing is fast becoming a critical element of the transportation network in many cities and universities, enabling residents, students and businesses to get rid of their cars while still meeting their transportation needs.
U Car Share is committed to the community and will work with the city of Portland to see that the program is successful. U Car Share is very excited to be in Portland and looks forward to the growth of car sharing.
U Car Share is also available in: Berkeley, Calif.; College Station, Texas; Madison, Wis.; and Portland, Ore.
For more information about U Car Share, log on to ucarshare.com or call 1-866-323-4591.
U-Haul Corporate Sustainability Initiative
U-Haul was founded by a Navy veteran who grew up in the Great Depression. Tires and gas were still rationed or in short supply during the late 1940s when U-Haul began serving U.S. customers. Today, that background is central to the U-Haul Sustainability Program: "Serving the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs." Our commitment to reduce, reuse and recycle includes fuel efficient moving vans, neighborhood proximity, moving box reuse, moving pads made from discarded material and packing peanuts that are 100 percent biodegradable. Learn more about these facts and others at uhaul.com/sustainability.
The U-Haul International, Inc. logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=5134
The photo is also available via AP PhotoExpress.
