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Campus Parking offers Zipcar, Borrow-a-Bike and Electric Vehicle Charging Station programs

August 3, 2017

NIU has five Zipcar’s in its fleet

NIU now has five Zipcars available for students who need some wheels to run errands, keep doctor’s appointments or even head out of town on a road trip.

Students, faculty, staff can sign up for a Zipcar membership by visiting www.zipcar.com/niu and completing a brief application form. Zipcar memberships are only $15 the first year and waive the application fee – a $25 savings for NIU members!  Student leaders, including resident assistants, tour guides and student orientation leaders are eligible for a free membership – their first year membership fee of $15 is waived!

Zipcar members can find two cars parked in Lot D, north of Neptune West along Lucinda Avenue, two located on the northeast side of the Student Recreation Center parking lot, facing Lucinda and one in Lot X, north of the New Residence Hall, facing Annie Glidden Road.

Electric vehicle charging station available in parking garage

NIU Campus Parking Services reminds faculty, staff, students and community members that there is an electric vehicle (EV) charging station on campus. The charging station is located on the west side of the parking garage drive-up ramp off Carroll Avenue. This project is part of an initiative known as “The Workplace Charging Challenge.” The Workplace Charging Challenge” aims to have 500 U.S. employers join by 2018.

The charging station, a ChargePoint CT4000 Series Level 2, is a single unit with two charging connectors which allows two vehicles to be charged simultaneously. It charges at a maximum rate of 25 RPH (miles of Range Per Hour), and stations can fully charge some vehicles in less than four hours.

Various payment options are available—American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Visa or a ChargePoint prepaid card can be used to pay for charging sessions. The first four hours are billed at $1 per hour. After four hours, the rate increases to $5 per hour in order to encourage availability.

Borrow-a-Bike

The Borrow-a-Bike program provides currently-enrolled students, faculty and staff with a free and environmentally-friendly alternative mode of transportation for getting around campus! Bikes are available at Campus Parking Services on a first-come, first-served basis. Please remember that you must have your NIU OneCard with you when borrowing a bike.

Complete the Borrow-a-Bike safety course application form to receive access. Please allow 1-3 business days for processing the form before you receive access to the course.

Upon successful completion of the safety course quiz, you may come to Campus Parking Services, during scheduled check out times, to borrow a bike. Bikes are still available on a first-come, first-served basis and completing the safety course does not guarantee that you will receive a bike. Therefore, make sure to complete the safety course as soon as possible in order to have a better chance of receiving a bike.

For additional information on these programs contact Campus Parking Services at (815) 753-1045 or visit our website at http://www.niu.edu/parking/index.shtml.

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