Zipcar Wraps Up Month-Long Program, Reveals Results of the 2009 Lo...( CAMBRIDGE Mass. Aug. 24 /...),Health

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Aug. 24 /PRNewswire/ -- Zipcar, the world's largest car-sharing service, today announced the results of the 2009 Low-Car Diet, in which more than 250 people around the globe gave up their car for a month, from July 15 - August 15, 2009. After this year's annual program, 100 participants noted that they planned to stay car-free, compared to 83 who made that same commitment after last year's Low-Car Diet.

The key findings from this year's 2009 Low-Car Diet include:

• Economic Impact
  • Respondents spent 67 percent less on vehicle-related costs compared to the previous month when they were driving their personally owned cars
    

• Environmental Impact
  • 59 percent of the participants reported that the Low-Car Diet encouraged them to make other environmentally friendly changes in their life such as recycling, eating more organic foods and reducing their at-home energy usage (e.g. turning off lights and air conditioning)
  • Participants took 74 percent fewer trips by car and reduced overall vehicle miles traveled (VMTs) by 66 percent
  • Low-Car Dieters also doubled their public transit ridership with a 98 percent increased use of public transportation
    

• Health Benefits
  • Participants walked 93 percent more and biked 132 percent more, logging a combined total of 8,060 miles by bike during the Low-Car Diet month
  • 47 percent Low-Car Dieters reported losing weight; a total amount of 413 pounds were lost during the program
    

"Once again, the Low Car Diet results emphasize our mission to enable simple and responsible urban living," said Scott Griffith, chairman and CEO of Zipcar. "We co
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