Iowa City, University of Iowa to offer 'car sharing'

Iowa City and the University of Iowa are partnering in a car-sharing service.

Car sharing is like renting a car, but for short periods, like for just an hour.

The City Council voted 7-0 Tuesday night to award a contract to Zipcar Inc. to provide the service. The UI has served as the lead agency on the project and will be part of the effort.

The three-year contract, with options for two more years, comes with no additional costs to the city except for staff time for marketing the service and parking spots for the cars, said Chris O'Brien, Iowa City's director of transportation services.

The service will offer 10 vehicles, with rates running from $7 to $9 an hour, depending on the vehicle and day of the week, he said. Personal and business memberships will be available for $35 to $60 annually.

People as young as 18 will be able to use the cars, O'Brien said. He envisions it being especially popular with college students and those who live downtown and don't own cars.

Zipcar has more than 600,000 members in 35 states, and the Iowa City-UI deal would make Iowa No. 36, O'Brien said.