Ridesharing Service Takes Off
December 3, 2010
Contact: University Relations
Phone: 410.837.5739
Nearly 100 members of the University of Baltimore community have signed up for Zimride—UB's new social network for sharing commutes and one-time rides—since it debuted in late September, and many more riders are expected to join as the busy holiday travel season ramps up.
"We're seeing a healthy mix of daily commuters and people planning out-of-town destinations," said Jeff La Noue, UB's project and sustainability planner. "Every day there are new rides posted on the Zimride site, with some going out of state, some using it to go to events together, and many offering to share a regular commute to and from UB. Our goal is to reach a critical mass so that every requested ride turns up a good match."
The University's partnership with Zimride establishes a different kind of social network: one that uses Facebook integration to find friends and colleagues for sharing commutes or one-time rides. The Zimride network empowers people to join together to reduce campus traffic, parking difficulties and provide substantial cost-savings for the UB community.
Users familiar with Facebook will recognize Zimride's emphasis on personal networks, interests and friends before they decide to share a ride. Participants create profiles that show their preferences for in-car music, talk radio, smoking or non-smoking and so on, to help ensure an enjoyable ride.
UB students, faculty and staff can access the free UB Zimride system here. It requires a UB NetID to gain access. And it's not too late to get your free pair of sunglasses (while supplies last) just for setting up your profile on the site.
With more than 375,000 users, Zimride is the largest online social rideshare community in North America. The firm has introduced private rideshare communities at more than 60 of the nation's leading universities, including Stanford, UCLA, the University of Michigan and Cornell, as well as at major corporations such as Wal-Mart and CIGNA.
The University of Baltimore is a member of the University System of Maryland and comprises the School of Law, the Yale Gordon College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Public Affairs and the Merrick School of Business.