The ASUO Senate’s Over-Realized Fund Committee will vote on forging a potential contract with carpooling network Zimride this week in an effort to encourage students to share seats during weekend car trips.
ASUO Sen. Ian Fielding and Environmental Advocate Nathan Howard have been promoting the contract to the committee, who picked up the idea earlier in the term following a presentation made by representatives of Zimride and Zipcar, a sister organization of Zimride.
The service would let students list upcoming car trips, and include information about seat availability, gas money and other conditions of the trip.
“It would give us access to an amazing system that allows people to sell seats … or search for seats going up to Portland or the Bay Area,” Howard said. “(They can) search for a ride as opposed to just Craigslist or Facebook.”
The committee will be voting on its final recommendations to the Senate this week. Members are presently considering more than 30 ideas on how to spend the $200,000 leftover from enrollment underestimations, and will be rounding that number down to roughly 12 later today in preparation for Wednesday’s vote. If approved, the University would be included in the Zimride network, and students would be able to connect with each other and share transportation resources.
Also, because the system is currently used by several different universities, it is possible for students at neighboring schools to plan trips and travel together.
“The way that Zimride is starting up … is sort of like how Facebook started,” Howard said. “Limited to institutions, other universities can link up with them.”
The over-realized fund’s status as a non-replenishing funding source does not affect this request because Senate members are requesting funds for a three-year contract after which, Fielding said, money would likely come from other sources.
If the University agrees to use Zipcar, it would get a discount on Zimride but would have to agree to drop the WeCar service. The University currently holds a contract with WeCar for rental car services on campus.
“We have to agree to get rid of WeCar; we need to look at the contract and see what it would take to void the contract or let it run out,” Fielding said. “It’s in their interest; it’s a per-hour cost for students.”
The WeCar system is currently housed within the Department of Public Safety. Fielding said a meeting is scheduled for this Thursday with members of the Department of Public Safety and Student Affairs to discuss a possible transition.
OrgSync, another potential service being before the committee, would work like Blackboard and DuckWeb but for student programs and activities. If the committee approves both, there is a potential for the Zimride to integrate in OrgSync.
“OrgSync will help contracts (like Zimride, Oregon Student Association, United States Student Association) connect with students by giving the students access to opportunities so they are able to get involved,” ASUO Programs Coordinator Sinjin Carey said.
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Student transportation possibilities surface for over-realized fund
Daily Emerald
February 27, 2011
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