No car on campus? Now you can still drive.
In December Hertz launched its new car-sharing club Connect By Hertz and Pepperdine was one of the first universities to sign on.
Senior Anna McDermott lives on campus without a car and was the first student to use the service. She says she drove her rental car through the Los Angeles area for six days and enjoyed her experience.
“The best part is enjoying the convenience of having your own car without having to worry says McDermott.
Insurance and gas are extremely expensive when you have your own car but the rental fee covers both!”
There are currently four cars available for rent: a Mazda 3 Toyota Camry Toyota Prius and Ford Escape.
Going Green
Director of Public Safety Dawn Emrich says the car-sharing service is not only user-friendly but also environmentally friendly. All of the cars are hybrid vehicles meaning they consume less gas and produce less pollution per mile than non-hybrid vehicles.
“Car-sharing is better for the environment as well because if you have more people sharing one car then it’s just one less car on the road says Emrich.
How to Rent
The first step is visiting the service’s website and choosing which package to purchase. Renters can decide to rent by the hour or by the day. McDermott says the rest of the process is just as simple.
You have a card and you beep yourself in says McDermott. The car unlocks and depending on when you’re reserved you just drive it whenever.”
Each vehicle also has a phone inside if the driver experiences any problems.
Emrich says other campuses have used similar rental services.
“It’s a great idea for Pepperdine says Emrich. Most of all because it provides options.”