Flexcar is a car sharing program which enables students to rent and reserve a car, either hour-by-hour or for a day.

Have you ever been stranded at a bus stop in the freezing cold whether with several grocery bags in hand just waiting for that stupid bus to get to you?

Believe it or not, you could have saved yourself time, energy and the agony of standing outside in the frosty weather with the help of a program that is new to University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee this year, Flexcar.

Flexcar is a car sharing program which enables students to rent and reserve a car, either hour-by-hour or for a day at a time.

According to Scott Peak, the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee director of University Housing, Sandburg Residence Hall wanted to offer students living there another option for getting around.

The program was presented at a conference a few years ago and was finally brought to campus this year. Arizona State and Ohio State Universities also introduced the program to their campuses this year.

Prior to obtaining membership to the Flexcar program by accessing their Web site and providing the required information, a student will receive a packet in the mail, which includes their official membership card. This membership card will then act as the key to access the car after reserving it online.

The price for renting the car is $7 per hour or $60 per day, and this price includes gas.

“The program is meant to be ecology-based,” Peak said. “For every rented or shared car, it takes 14 cars off the street.”

Flexcar is not only available to UWM students, but to faculty and the general public as well. Currently, the cars are available in front of Sandburg and at Kenilworth Square, but they will also be placed at the new RiverView dorms in Riverwest.

Peak also mentioned that Flexcar is in the process of being taken over by a larger car-sharing company called Zipcar, and in the near future the name will be changing over on the cars around campus.

However, Peak said he does not predict a price change and is very confident the service and convenience will remain at a high level of satisfaction.

This is a very useful program that residents of Sandburg should really take advantage of. It could be the perfect way to make it to that important doctor or dentist appointment, or just home for the afternoon.

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