“It’s super easy getting around campus, especially since Whitman is small for a college,” said sophomore Dieter Brandner, “but I think using a car-sharing program would be the same as borrowing a car from a friend, to get groceries in emergencies, except without the obligation.”

Like Brandner, the majority of students at Whitman College do not have cars. Although Walla Walla is a small city and many students live within walking distance of campus, bicycling and walking are sometimes not viable options, and many students find it difficult to run errands or go across town without a car.

Many colleges and universities have a car-sharing program from Zipcar, which offers self-service, on-demand cars by the hour or day in major cities. Zipcar extends services to universities for college students across the nation, including Pomona College, UCLA and University of Washington. Students register for a card from Zipcar, reserve their car in advance online and pick up the car from a reserved spot on or near campus.

This fall, Zipcar expanded their service to the University of Puget Sound campus in Tacoma for students to rent at an hourly or daily rate. UPS has two cars on campus that students can rent for nine dollars per hour, or 72 dollars per day. Insurance and gas are included in that price.

According to Todd Badham, Director of Security at UPS, students at the university use the program to perform daily tasks.

“Students use [Zipcar] to go grocery shopping, to the bus and train station to pick up other students, and to run errands,” he said.

Badham noticed a positive response to the program, and says membership is increasing.

“Students have reacted  really well, actually; we get several memberships a week,” he said.

Although there is no car-sharing system or program similar to Zipcar at Whitman, students have been able to take advantage of the rides listserv through the Whitman student e-mail system.  However, for students wanting to get away from campus to take a last-minute day trip to Pasco or Kennewick, Zipcar is an asset that Whitman students may benefit from.

Zipcar and other similar car-sharing programs pride themselves on reducing the number of cars on the road and helping to promote environmental friendliness. According to a study from the Environmental Defense Fund, American cars and pickup trucks are responsible for nearly half of the greenhouse gases emitted by automobiles globally. Small private cars also have a history of emitting the most carbon dioxide in the U.S. because more small cars are used by citizens. Because of this, Zipcar aims to decrease greenhouse gas emissions by reducing the number of privately-used vehicles on the road.

According to Zipcar’s website, each Zipcar in use replaces approximately 15 to 20 privately-owned vehicles, although this would not necessarily apply for college students who would not otherwise own a car.

Katrina Lin, a third-year medical student at UCLA, was grateful to use Zipcar when first arriving on the UCLA campus.

“I didn’t actually use it very often, maybe once every two months or so, but that’s what was nice about it,” she said. “I didn’t have a car, but when I needed it, it was there so it saved me a lot of money.”

Senior Nat Clarke, Whitman sustainability coordinator, feels that because most students live so close to campus and Walla Walla is so small, Zipcar or a similar program would not impact students or reduce greenhouse gas emissions created by students with cars.

“I can’t imagine that it would significantly reduce the number of upperclassman that bring cars to school,” he said. “I don’t see it as a means of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, but that being said, student ride-sharing for trips home is huge.”

Lin agrees. She believes that Zipcar doesn’t significantly reduce traffic in Los Angeles or impact traffic in other areas of the country.

“In reality it’s more convenient for the user than for the environment, because if you really needed a car, then you would buy one. Zipcar is more for convenience,” she said.

However, Clarke sees Zipcar as an advantage for students who are new to Whitman and Walla Walla.

“I think it would be valuable for freshmen and sophomores that don’t have access to a vehicle,” he said. “But I think by the time you’re a senior you have found out a way to survive without a car in Walla Walla.”

First-year Nina Pascucci agrees that as a new student she would feel more comfortable with an easier transition, in terms of transportation, to college.

“I feel like you’d have a little bit more freedom with it. I would use it if I wanted to go somewhere far away from campus to get away,” she said.

As an upperclassman though, Clarke personally prefers to not use a car.

“I personally wouldn’t adapt to it; I find it much easier to ride the bus, take my bike, ride with friends.”

First-year Edward Younie, who brought his car to school, agrees with Clarke.

“I sometimes think a car is more of a hassle,” he said.

Students and other citizens who don’t own or prefer not to use a car are able to take advantage of Valley Transit, Walla Walla’s public bus system that runs weekdays and Saturdays for 75 cents each way. Routes running through campus extend from the Walla Walla Regional Airport throughout town and to College Place.