Though West Virginia University’s WeCar program wasn’t initially popular, its popularity is rising. Eric Rosie, assistant director of the Department of Transportation and Parking, said when the program was launched in August few students knew about it due to a lack of advertising for the program. WeCar lets students rent a hybrid car from the University for up to 15 hours at a time. "In September we saw only a hand full of people using the program," he said. "But within a month we saw that triple, and now it has up to 60 applicants ready to use the WeCar system." The cars, four 2009 Toyota Priuses, can be rented by anyone with a valid WVU e-mail address. Individuals can register for the program online at the Department of Transportation and Parking’s Web site. They must provide proof of insurance, and a background check will be performed on their driver’s license. Students between the ages of 18 and 21 must also provide a parental consent form. It costs $9 per hour to rent a car. Rosie said the program is beneficial for the University community because parking is crowded in Morgantown, and it can be expensive for students to bring cars with them to WVU. "I don’t think it’s fair for the University to limit having a car," Rosie said. "So it was a great idea to give students the alternative to this problem and give students the ability to just get away or go home if they need to." Richard Riley, a senior finance major, said he likes the idea of the car and appreciates that efficient hybrid cars are used for the program. "I think it’s great that the University is giving students the opportunity to take a car that’s beneficial to the environment and go home if they need to or get around campus for class," Riley said. Matt Smith, a senior parks and recreation major, also appreciates the program because it lets students get around town to run minor errands. "It’s great to be able to go grocery shopping and not have to carry a lot of groceries on the PRT or bus," he said. "And to be able to take a car, do your shopping and drive to your home is just a service that can’t be beat."
WeCar use on the rise
Published: Thursday, October 15, 2009
Updated: Thursday, October 15, 2009 22:10
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