Zipcar Inc. issued a press release earlier this week announcing a partnership with the City of Toronto that will see 11 dedicated Zipcars across the city.

The first car, a Toyota Matrix named "Macall", is already in place, and can be found at Harrison Garden Boulevard and Humberstone Drive. Zipcar is mainly found in the United States, but the company has moved into Vancouver, and now Toronto.

The arrival of Zipcar Inc. means more competition for Toronto's well-established Auto Share, a car sharing co-operative.

Studies have shown that each Zipcar replaces between 15 and 20 personally owned vehicles, and that Zipcar members increase their use of public transit and reduce overall driving, helping to reduce parking demand, congestion and emissions.

Zipcar will add ten vehicles to the on-street parking locations in the downtown core in the next two months. Locations will include the intersections of Emily and Wellington Streets, Mutual and Dundas Streets, Ed Mirvish Way and King Street, Gould Street near Dalhousie Street, Jordon and King Streets, and two additional cars in a North York neighbourhood with a location to be determined.

Zipcars are available by the hour or by day to members, who can reserve their cars via phone, online or a mobile device. The fee includes parking in the reserved spot, gas, insurance, 200 free kilometres daily and roadside assistance.

For more information, check out their website.

[Source: Digital Journal]