In an effort to reduce its carbon footprint, Syracuse University has launched Zimride, a ridesharing program aimed at providing transportation options for students, faculty and staff.

Zimride, a San Francisco-based company owned by Enterprise, offers travelers a chance to carpool with a driver going to the same destination by using social networks and zimride.com. The company is used on more than 100 campuses across the country, including Cornell University and Ithaca College. To access Zimride in the Syracuse area, users must have an SU email address, according to the company’s website. 

Elin Riggs, director of the Office of Off-Campus and Commuter Services, said after signing up, members create a profile on Zimride that is accessed through the SU Parking and Transit Services website.

Riggs said individuals can connect based on being a driver or passenger, departure and arrival times and other criteria seen on the individual’s profile.

Students can use Zimride to offset the cost of driving their own vehicle, said Melissa Cadwell, marketing manager in the SU Sustainability Division. Cadwell said students can offer the open seats in their car to other riders, who can name the price of those seats.

Cadwell said prior to Zimride, SU partnered with another company to provide a carpooling service, but that company did not meet the needs of SU. The service ended in 2011.

Scot Vanderpool, a manager with the Office of Parking and Transit Services, said in an email that SU chose Zimride after extensive research and communication with the company.

“Before we committed to Zimride, we covered all the angles and possibilities and we are confident that this program will be successful,” he said.  “Zimride has a great track record, the marketing will be much better and the program will be much easier for customers to use.”

Vanderpool said by using Zimride, it will open up parking spaces, not only for faculty, staff and students, but also for visitors and VIPs.

“If even 10 percent of our faculty, staff and commuting students carpool, it will open up spaces everywhere and that’s so important as Syracuse University continues to grow and build,” he said.

The total number of parking permits for faculty, staff and students is close to 10,000, Vanderpool said.

Riggs said one of the biggest advantages of Zimride is that it allows individuals to collaborate to travel to events.

“If someone wants to go to a football game or basketball game, they can post on the site,” she said. “But it could also bring more fans to the not-so-popular sports and give them a bigger crowd.”

Cadwell said the use of Zimride will allow for a reduction in SU’s carbon footprint through a chain reaction of carpooling.

“For every car that is left at home or for every trip that is shared, SU’s carbon emissions will be lower than if we continue to do business as usual,” she said. “The more people who share vehicles, the better we treat our climate and this will then help the university reach its goal of carbon neutrality.”

Riggs said the use of the program has been mostly from faculty and staff, but she expects an increase in student use in the coming fall, once students are more familiar with the program.

“Overall the program has been a success thus far and I expect it to continue to be a success,” she said.

Vanderpool said 20 students are currently signed up for the program and the Office of Parking and Transit Services will be meeting with SA president Boris Gresely next week to discuss future plans for Zimride.

Published on April 9, 2014 at 12:40 am

Contact Justin: jmatting@syr.edu | @jmattingly306