* WARNING: THIS IS AN UNOFFICIAL, INTRODUCTORY COPY OF THE BILL.
THE OFFICIAL COPY CONSIDERED BY THE CITY COUNCIL IS THE FIRST READER COPY.
INTRODUCTORY*
CITY OF BALTIMORE
COUNCIL BILL R
(Resolution)
Introduced by: President Dixon
A RESOLUTION ENTITLED
A COUNCIL RESOLUTION concerning
Title
Informational Hearing - Has The Time Come For Baltimore To Get Zipped Up Tight?
FOR the purpose of requesting representatives of the Zipcar company to address the City Council on the feasibility of providing this innovative web-based car-sharing service to citizens and workers in Baltimore City, determining the logistics of providing this service within the City's infrastructure, and requesting the Department of Planning and the Department of Transportation to study the issue and submit recommendations to the Council within 6 months of the date of the hearing.
Body
Recitals
Zipcars is a concept pioneered in Europe where cars are parked around a city for members to drive by the hour or day, instead of owning their own cars. In June 2000, the first Zipcars appeared in this country. Tailored to appeal to American consumers, the cars were outfitted with wireless technology, creating a hassle-free reservation system, and the cars were strategically placed around key neighborhoods in participating cities.
Zipcar officials claim their service is preferable to traditional car rental services because participants do not have to go to the rental car location to pick up the car or to stand in any lines - with Zipcar, customers simply reserve on line and walk a block or 2 to pick up a car that is conveniently located in close proximity to work or play.
Business Wire reports "since 2000, when Zipcars first hit the road, Zipcar has emerged as the largest car-sharing service in the United States, with over 37,000 members and nearly 600 vehicles in over 8 states and 21 cities. In 2005, Zipcar began to execute its aggressive national rollout and plans to be in 25 major metro markets by 2009. Zipcar provides personal drivers and businesses with 24/7 self-service access to a full range of vehicles located around the city including over 20 different makes and models."
In Washington, D.C., Zipcars are parked adjacent to more than 25 Metro stops and another 40 locations throughout the metro area to service its approximately 2,000 active members. All Zipcar members can reserve any car in the network at any time, not only in the District area but throughout the New York City, New Jersey, and Boston metropolitan areas, as well as in Princeton and Hoboken, New Jersey.
As Baltimore emerges as a major player in the bio-tech, business, tourism, medical, and education arenas, adding this on-demand car company could only serve to enhance the attractiveness of our city to an increasingly progressive and savvy clientele.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF BALTIMORE, That representatives of the Zipcar company are cordially invited to address the City Council on the feasibility of providing this innovative web-based car-sharing service to citizens and workers in Baltimore City, to determine the logistics of providing this service within the City's infrastructure, and the Directors of the Department of Planning and the Department of Transportation are requested to study the issue and submit recommendations to the Council within 6 months of the date of the hearing.
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be sent to the Mayor, the President and Vice-President of Marketing, Zipcar Co., the Director of the Department of Planning, the Director of the Department of Transportation, and the Mayor's Legislative Liaison to the City Council.
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