Zipcar Announces Annual Low-Car Diet 'Call For Participants'

Month-Long Program Gives Urban Residents the Opportunity to Experience the
Economic, Environmental and Health Benefits of a Low-Car Lifestyle

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., June 24 /PRNewswire/ -- Zipcar, the world's largest
car-sharing service, is calling on urban residents to apply for the 2009
Low-Car Diet. Beginning July 15, participants from all 13 Zipcar cities in
the United States, Canada and London, England will pledge to give up their
personally owned car for one month. Instead, they will bike, walk, utilize
public transportation and be given a Zipcar membership.

In the midst of a challenging economy, the Low-Car Diet gives people the
opportunity to test drive a low-car and less expensive lifestyle. The program
gives participants the experience of living without a car and the associated
economic, environmental and health benefits.

According to a recent survey, the average American household owns two cars and
spends 19 percent of income on vehicle-related expenses*. Conversely, upon
joining Zipcar, 65 percent of members report selling an existing car or
delaying the purchase of a new one. As a result, Zipcar members spend just 6
percent of their income on transportation-related costs, a significant savings
at a time when people everywhere are looking to cut costs.

"Smart consumption -- including the ability to use something without owning it
-- is at the heart of Zipcar capitalism," said Scott Griffith, chairman and
CEO of Zipcar. "We encourage people to take part in this year's Low-Car Diet
challenge and experience our vision of more car sharers than car owners in
cities around the globe."

Several national sponsors and editorial partners generously are supporting
this year's Low-Car Diet in intelligent and impactful ways, including:

-- Montague Corporation - the world leader in full size folding bikes is
providing one lucky Low-Car Diet participant in each Zipcar city with
a
SwissBike TX to fill the gaps between public transit and Zipcar
(SwissBike.com). Montague's folding bicycles can easily compact to
fit in the trunk of a Zipcar, allowing users to seamlessly transition
in
and out of urban life as needed.
-- HealthCentral - will provide fitness experts at local Low-Car Diet
events to consult with participants about exercise programs, will
donate
Fast and Fit books by Ellen Haas, and will provide healthy recipes to
all participants. (HealthCentral.com)

-- EverydayHealth - will encourage readers to participate with
interactive
polls and blog about their experiences on the Everyday Health Low-Car
Diet blog. Senior staff also will participate in and blog about launch
events. (EverydayHealth.com)

Last year's Low-Car Diet demonstrated that having a taste of a low-car
lifestyle can lead to permanent car shedding. Fifty-eight percent of 2008
participants stated that they planned to continue to live without a personally
owned car, and another 31 percent considered the same commitment. During the
month-long program, participants also reduced vehicle miles traveled by
100,000 miles, saved 4,000 gallons of fuel (preventing more than 75,000 pounds
of carbon emissions), lost weight due to increased walking and biking and
saved significantly on their transportation costs.

For individuals who are interested in participating in the 2009 Low-Car Diet
in Canada or the United States, please visit http://tinyurl.com/lowcardiet or
in the United Kingdom visit http://tinyurl.com/lowcardietuk to apply.

*Source: 2007 Consumer Expenditure Survey and February 2008 Experian
Automotive Survey

About Zipcar
Zipcar is the world's leading car-sharing service with 300,000 members and
6,500 vehicles in urban areas and college campuses throughout 26 North
American states and provinces as well as in London, England. As a leader in
urban transportation, Zipcar offers more than 30 makes and models of
self-service vehicles by the hour or day to savvy city residents and
businesses looking for an alternative to the high costs and hassles of owning
a car in the city. More information is available at zipcar.com

SOURCE Zipcar

Nancy Scott Lyon of Zipcar, +1-617-336-4332, nancy@zipcar.com