cost and fuel savings also reported
CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Aug. 26 // -- Zipcar, the world's largest provider of cars on demand by the hour or day, today announced the results of the first-ever North American Low-Car Diet. The Low-Car Diet challenged more than 300 participants throughout 12 North American cities to live without their personal vehicle for one month and rely on public transportation, biking, walking, and Zipcar. A post-diet participant survey showed that living without a car had a positive impact on their wallets, their bodies and their communities. Fifty-eight percent of participants stated that they plan to continue to live without a personally-owned car, and another 31% are considering that same commitment.
The survey showed, that during the one-month Low-Car Diet:
-- Combined, participants reduced vehicle miles traveled (VMT) by 100,000 miles, driving 71% fewer miles than before the challenge.
-- Combined, participants saved nearly 4,000 gallons of fuel and prevented more than 75,000 pounds of carbon emissions.
-- Participants increased their use of other modes of transportation.
-- Participants increased miles walked by 85%
-- Participants increased miles biked by more than 100%
-- Participants increased public transit trips by 65%
-- 40% of participants reported that the Low-Car Diet led them to lose weight, due to the increased amount of walking and biking.
-- Respondents spent 61% less on costs associated with owning and using a car.
"The Low-Car Diet demonstrates that car sharing is an effective way to reduce individual car ownership, vehicle miles traveled and make urban living more affordable," said Scott Griffith, chairman and CEO of Zipcar. "We envision cities where there are more car sharers than car owners. When this happens, millions of urban residents will be contributing to a cleaner environment by making smart transportation choices that benefit them and their communities."
For more information on the Low-Car Diet, please visit zipcar.com/lowcardiet or to speak with a program participant or representative from Zipcar, please contact Lesley Weiner at 917.595.3034 or lweiner@cooperkatz.com.
About Zipcar
Zipcar is the world's leading car-sharing service with 225,000 members and 5,500 vehicles in urban areas and college campuses throughout 26 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. For more information, visit Zipcar.com.
Press Contact
Lesley Weiner, at CooperKatz for Zipcar
(917)595-3034
lweiner@cooperkatz.com
