Hamline community members now have the convenience of their own car on campus, without the worry about parking, maintenance, gas prices, or emissions. Hamline’s HOURCAR, a hybrid Honda Insight, arrived on Earth Day, and it’s now available for students, faculty, staff, and other community members to reserve.

“This is a great way to address a number of student needs,” Hamline University Student Congress President David McCarthy said. “They’ll be able to run errands, go to interviews, and just get where they need to be in a very cost-effective way.”

Those who want to use the car must sign-up for a membership through HOURCAR.org. The $50 membership fee will be waived for those with a Hamline email address through the end of April and again in the fall. Then, members choose which monthly plans and hourly rates work best for them.

Hamline already has gas/electric carts for use around campus, so HOURCAR joins a fleet of fuel-efficient vehicles and advances the environmentally-responsible ethic on campus. Fewer students driving their own cars may also ease parking congestion in the area.

The Hamline University Student Congress purchased the car with $15,000 of the organization’s money and a grant from the McKnight Foundation.