Two Green U programs launched for fall 2008 got off to a racing start to help UM ease transportation woes while putting the brakes on carbon emissions.

With Zipcar, students, faculty, alumni, and staff rent from a fleet of fuel-efficient automobiles reserved online or by phone. Participants pay $35 for annual membership plus $8 an hour to drive.

Richard Sobaram, director of Parking and Transportation Services, says it’s going “great, much better than we thought it would.” Within the first three months, Zipcar had more than 250 UM members (mostly students) who logged a total of 2,800 driving hours. After just one semester, Sobaram upped the fleet from three to five Zipcars. “Obviously the demand is there,” he says.

For students who prefer pedaling over gas pedals, UBike offers affordable men’s and women’s cruisers for sale at the UM Bookstore and online, as well as accessories such as custom UM gear, free locks, service discounts, and more bike-friendly pathways. Mel Tenen, assistant vice president of Auxiliary Services, says the first batch of 310 bikes sold within a week; he ordered another 300 to get this semester rolling.