WASHINGTON-- After initial results showed increased ridership and decreased car ownership, Zipcar, the world's largest car sharing service, announced Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) has extended its partnership with Zipcar and will bring Zipcars to additional Metro stations. With this announcement, Zipcar will more than triple its WMATA fleet to offer a total of 48 vehicles available at downtown and remote Metro station locations.

"The initial results of the partnership between Zipcar and WMATA have shown significant increases in ridership and decreases in private car ownership," said Matthew Malloy, Regional VP of Zipcar's Washington D.C. operations.

Metro launched its initial car-sharing program in December 2001 to expand transportation options for those without cars and significantly reduce traffic and parking congestion in and around the Washington, DC metropolitan area.

Zipcar currently operates in London, England and 13 states and provinces in North America, serving more than 80,000 individual and business members with 2,500 vehicles. With more than 40 percent of members reporting that Zipcar led them to sell or put off purchasing a vehicle, Zipcar estimates that its service has eliminated more than 7,000 vehicles from the District of Columbia’s streets. Zipcar members also report that on average they drive more than 4,000 fewer miles each year and save more than $435 each month compared to when they owned a private vehicle.