2008 Woodie Awards
Zipcar program revoked after students "voted with their feet"
Heather Steeves
Issue date: 9/11/08 Section: News
The difference between the other Maine universities that have Zipcar and UMaine is that Bates, UNE and Bowdoin's administrations support the program financially - not their student governments.
"SG at UMaine took a cutting edge role in the implementation of the program. At other schools, the universities took a more leading role, and I think that was an untapped area as well. The university at first was reluctant to contribute because of the financial tough times the system is in," Mitchell said. He said the program could have been more successful with a financial boost from UMaine's administration.
Mitchell thinks the lack of use stemmed from poor marketing over the summer. "I referred to it as being a baby. When you have a baby you don't throw it in your living room and tell it to grow up and support itself; it needs nurturing and support, and eventually it will support itself," he said. "The time really wasn't put into it, especially over the summer. I think that led to the financial state it was in."
Zipcar was brought to campus in the fall of 2007 to help reduce the need for students to park on campus. Students needed a license and to have no more than two incidents, including moving violations and accidents in the past three years.
Zipcar estimates that each of its vehicles takes 19 cars off the road. When the program grows, the company sends another Zipcar - up to 22 cars. If the program had grown to this level at UMaine it may have freed more than 400 parking spaces if 10 percent of residents on campus used it.
According to Alan Stormann, the assistant director for parking and transportation services, there are enough parking spots on campus for students, although they may have to hunt a little for the spot. Stormann was nonetheless disappointed to hear of the termination of the program.
"It's not a matter of adequate parking spaces, it's a matter of green initiative. It's reducing the greenhouse gases. That's why we're trying to reduce the amount of cars on campus," Stormann said. "It provides a meaningful alternative to bringing vehicles to campus if you only have an occasional need for a vehicle."
"SG at UMaine took a cutting edge role in the implementation of the program. At other schools, the universities took a more leading role, and I think that was an untapped area as well. The university at first was reluctant to contribute because of the financial tough times the system is in," Mitchell said. He said the program could have been more successful with a financial boost from UMaine's administration.
Mitchell thinks the lack of use stemmed from poor marketing over the summer. "I referred to it as being a baby. When you have a baby you don't throw it in your living room and tell it to grow up and support itself; it needs nurturing and support, and eventually it will support itself," he said. "The time really wasn't put into it, especially over the summer. I think that led to the financial state it was in."
Zipcar was brought to campus in the fall of 2007 to help reduce the need for students to park on campus. Students needed a license and to have no more than two incidents, including moving violations and accidents in the past three years.
Zipcar estimates that each of its vehicles takes 19 cars off the road. When the program grows, the company sends another Zipcar - up to 22 cars. If the program had grown to this level at UMaine it may have freed more than 400 parking spaces if 10 percent of residents on campus used it.
According to Alan Stormann, the assistant director for parking and transportation services, there are enough parking spots on campus for students, although they may have to hunt a little for the spot. Stormann was nonetheless disappointed to hear of the termination of the program.
"It's not a matter of adequate parking spaces, it's a matter of green initiative. It's reducing the greenhouse gases. That's why we're trying to reduce the amount of cars on campus," Stormann said. "It provides a meaningful alternative to bringing vehicles to campus if you only have an occasional need for a vehicle."
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