ASU’s Zipcar program has expanded to the West and Polytechnic campuses as part of ASU’s efforts to improve transportation options for students and staff.

The Zipcar program is an on-campus rental car service where ASU students, faculty and staff can rent cars hourly, for the day or for a number of hours monthly.

Shereen Eaton, information specialist coordinator for ASU’s Parking and Transit Services, said the available cars are standard four-door, low-fuel vehicles.

Examples of models include Honda Civics, Mini Coopers and Toyota Matrixes.

Eaton said two cars are now stationed at the West and Polytechnic campuses for use.

An event will celebrate the launch on Sept. 9 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the West and Polytechnic campuses.

In order to rent a Zipcar, a student must first buy a membership card then make a reservation online. The membership card is their electronic key to get into the car.

The annual membership fee is $35, which goes toward a driving credit.

The initial $35 is used toward the hourly or daily cost to reserve a car. Rentals cost $9 per hour or $66 per day.

These rates include gas, insurance, maintenance and 24-hour roadside assistance.

“We will be out there [at the Sept. 9 event] to explain how that process works,” Eaton said.

The event will have cars on display with PTS staff around to answer students’ questions.

Theresa Fletcher, director of PTS, said she is unable to predict the number of students who will use the service on the West and Polytechnic campuses.

“It’s almost like a new market,” she said.

President of Associated Students of ASU’s Polytechnic campus Matthew McCoy said he thinks Zipcars will be used often on campus.

McCoy said there are no grocery stores around campus, so students need a way to get basic things such as food.

He also said all the residence halls on campus are full this semester, so there are more people seeking transportation.

“Having that transportation on campus is very crucial,” McCoy said.

Eaton said there have been cars for students to use at the Tempe and Downtown campuses since the program was launched at the University in fall 2007.

Eaton said PTS always intended to expand the program to the other two campuses, but just needed more cars from the Zipcar company.

The company provides the University with cars depending on how many students are using them. She said ASU hopes to continue to expand the program and get more vehicles on the campuses.

“Once Zipcar sees we have a satisfactory utilization they [will] deem us worthy,” Eaton said.

The University does not receive financial benefits from the Zipcar program, but ASU also does not pay anything to use the service, Eaton said.

“It’s really a win-win situation,” she said.

Fletcher said ASU currently has 17 vehicles, 11 of which are parked at the Tempe campus while the last six are distributed between the other three campuses.

Reach the reporter at rachel.jimenez@asu.edu.