More than 600 students have used the car-sharing company Connect by Hertz since it was introduced to campus a year ago. Fourteen cars are available to rent, for students who don’t have their own car on campus.

Through a quick process, students receive a membership card and can reserve a car online when they need it. The card allows them access to the car — complete with keys inside — via a card-swipe. When students are done, they swipe the card again and park the car where they picked it up.

“It is a flexible and inexpensive way to have a set of wheels,” said Paula Rivera, manager of Public Affairs for the Hertz Corporation.

She said students pay a $50 annual membership fee and $25 enrollment fee, but sometimes Hertz offers promotions to cut the costs.

Rivera said the hourly rates for cars are inexpensive too, ranging from $8 to $10. This rate depends on the car and includes gas, insurance and campus parking.

With increased usage on campus, Connect is expanding their inventory.

“Last year we started with 10 cars,” Rivera said. “But since they’ve been used quite frequently, we just added four more cars to campus, including the BMW Mini Cooper.”

Other cars offered by Connect include the Ford Escape, Ford Ranger pickup truck and Toyota Prius.

Though Connect has seen frequent customers, some students see easier options.

“I don’t think that I would use [the service],” said Erin Vandenberg, a third-year in journalism. “I feel like it’d just be easier to find a friend who has a car. And it’s really easy to take the bus to Target or to any grocery store on High Street.”

However, Vandenberg said it could come in handy.

“If there was a school-related event and I needed to drive, I would rent a car,” Vandenberg said. “But I probably wouldn’t use it unless I felt like I had to.”

Marissa Burik, a senior in political science, disagrees.
“If I didn’t have my car on campus, I would use it,” Burik said. “It seems like an easier way to get around than actually bringing your car to school.”

Burik said she doesn’t know anyone who has tried Connect, but thinks it’s a good option to have.

“I feel like people don’t utilize the company, but I think it’s a good idea,” she said. “I think it’d be easier than trying to take a cab or a bus, because the COTA is scary.”

The campus location is at 1080 Carmack Rd., and the Web site is tp.osu.edu/carsharing.