Zipcar, a popular car sharing network that already has a presence at LSU and at Southgate Towers on Nicholson Drive, soon could be available to residents and visitors in downtown Baton Rouge.
Mayor Kip Holden’s administration and the Baton Rouge Area Foundation are in talks with Zipcar to launch a one-year pilot program in the Downtown Development District. The network would begin with four cars and, if successful, could expand to other parts of the city. The pilot program would have a one-year renewal option.
Beverly Haydel, the Baton Rouge Area Foundation’s director of civic leadership initiatives, says a cooperative endeavor agreement is being developed; those involved anticipate an authorization proposal likely will go before the Metro Council sometime in the next two weeks.
John Price, Holden’s assistant chief administrative officer, says Zipcar would lease downtown parking from the city. The locations of the spaces, which would be designated specifically for Zipcar, have yet to be finalized, he says. A modification to the city-parish’s parking ordinance is necessary to accommodate the network of cars downtown, Price says.
“There would be no need to modify the ordinances if we can’t reach an agreement with the provider,” Price says. “Once we are able to agree on the cooperative endeavour agreement, we would move forward with both items and we are optimistic that would be at the November 9 meeting.”
Zipcars are an alternative to traditional rentals. Under the Baton Rouge plan, they would be available in designated parking spaces for residents or tourists who pay a Zipcar membership to use by the hour or day. The cars must be returned. Drivers ages 18 to 20 who affiliated with a college or university can secure a membership; otherwise, users must be 21 years or older. The service operates in 30 metro markets, on more than 500 campuses and at 50 airports in the United States, United Kingdom, Germany and other countries.
Price says the goal of the car-sharing program is to reduce the number of vehicles on Baton Rouge roads.
“It’s all about trying to make really good connections and reduce the number of vehicles that could be used,” he says, adding that the cars would have been useful to people who lost vehicles in the August flood.
“I wish we had it up already,” Price says.
Haydel says the service would benefit Baton Rouge tourists who want to visit other parts of the city, but don’t want to pay rental car fees while staying here. Downtown residents would also benefit if they need to go on across-town errands.
Southern University is another area being considered for Zipcar service, Haydel says, adding that access to the vehicles could be particularly useful to first-year students who aren’t allowed to have cars on campus.
“The foundation is focused on mobility and alternative mobility options for people in our community—thinking about how we can increase the access to different modes of transportation,” says Haydel, who adds that BRAF also is working to launch a bike-sharing service in Baton Rouge next year.
—Alexandria Burris
