Starting this semester, Geneseo is offering two new transportation options for students – Hertz on Demand and Rideshare – supported by Campus Auxiliary Services and Geneseo's Parking & Transportation Services.
The new transportation options are meant to complement the Livingston Area Transportation Services (LATS) bus service around Geneseo and to Rochester on the weekends.
According to Becky Stewart, marketing coordinator for CAS, Zipcar was replaced because their contract with CAS had ended. Since the college itself is not allowed to enter into certain kinds of contracts such as with vehicle rental programs, CAS helps provide these services for students.
"The goal was to find another [rental car] partner with the most value for the campus community – to find a partner that made the most sense for Geneseo," Stewart said.
Stewart explained that Hertz On Demand is a relatively new program to college campuses and that it is similar to Zipcar, but with more benefits for students. These benefits, she said, include free membership, fixed hourly rates as low as $8 per hour, gas and GPS included, less stringent background checks and a 20 percent discount at all Hertz locations.
"Hertz On Demand offers the freedom and availability of a vehicle without the cost of having a car on campus," Stewart said. Parking & Transportation Inspector Joe Van Remmen added that Hertz On Demand allows students "to go places [they] can't currently go on the bus routes. With Hertz On Demand, you don't have to worry about keeping a car on campus, the insurance or parking."
In addition to the newly instated rental car service, Van Remmen has also created a Geneseo branch of Rideshare. According to the Geneseo Parking & Transportation website, "A rideshare is a group of community members willing to give other community members rides to and from a specific destination."
Through the website, students can post where they are traveling and places to which they would like to find a ride. This will allow students to split the cost of gas and help one another find alternative transportation.
Van Remmen explained that to sign up online, a Geneseo e-mail address is required in order to keep the website within the Geneseo community.
"People need to get out there and use [these services]," Van Remmen said. "To me, it is the way of the future for students. We need to become aware of alternative transportation options."
Students can sign up for both Hertz On Demand and Rideshare at http://www.geneseo.edu/pts.u