Story & Photos – Joseph Boyle
Friday on my way home from work I stopped at Starbucks on 11th and Pacific in downtown Tacoma to pick up a rolling Freeway beverage.
There it was, zipcar. My nephew, Paul, had told me about zipcar. He lived in Boston for several years and never owned a car. He zipped all over the East coast using zipcars.
In order to avoid having you think I make up this kind of stuff, I snapped a picture of the zipcar parked outside Starbucks.
The zipcar street sign gives you a rock solid hint that if you park your personal car in a zipcar reserved parking space you should not be surprised to see your taillights being dragged down the road behind a tow truck.
Sign up to become a zipcar zipcard-carrying member. Once you are approved following a driver’s and credit check, they issue you a zipcar zipcard.
With the zipcard in your pocket, you hop on your computer or smart phone and check for available zipcars in your target area. After locating a car, reserve the car over the net or via a phone call.
Then you walk up to the zipcar; wave your zipcard in front of your zipcar windshield to unlock the zipcar doors. Jump behind the wheel. The key is in the ignition. Start the car and off you go.
They claim zipcar is faster and cheaper than buying, owning, or renting a car. You get some gas and insurance too.
When your reservation expires, simply return the zipcar to the zipcar reserved parking spot.
You can rent several types of vehicles including BMW, Mini Coopers and pickup trucks. Based on ride-share statistics each zipcar shared takes at least 20 personally owned vehicles off the road.
Rent a zipcar for an hour or more. This is great if your car is in the shop or you need an extra car. If you are away from home, zipcar can come to your rescue and make you mobile. If a friend or relative visits, get them lined up with a zipcar on your account or their account. Maybe you want to impress your boss with a BMW when you pick him up at the airport.
I have not personally tried zipcar, but I bet some of you have. Please share your experience. At long last, Tacoma has become big-city like.
zipcar’s web site is www.zipcar.com.
That’s all. I have to zip!
