There are reports that the car share companies Zipcar and Flexcar will merge. Financial terms were not disclosed but it looks like Zipcar is absorbing the smaller Flexcar. The name of the merged company, which will have more than 5,000 vehicles and 180,000 subscribers in 48 cities, will be Zipcar. The news is expected to be made official by the weekend. We will have more as the story develops.

[Source: Washington Post, Seattle Times]

When we get tips sent to the AutoblogGreen tipbox, we check out the details. Today we got a note from a Jon W. about Flexcar's ongoing "Friends and Family" free membership promotion. The trouble is, the only other mentions of this promotion on the 'net are two comments (one on Green Car Congress and the other on a blog called Evolwithin) by Jon W.

So, since you'd think that Flexcar would actually be promoting a promotion if it exists, I'm not quite sure what to make of this. I've sent an email to Flexcar asking about whether the details described below are accurate, but for now I'll also ask the ABG readership about it. Are you a Flexcar member? Have you read about this promotion, or taken advantage of it?

For the record, here's what Jon W tells us the promotion entails:

Free Memberships for Flexcar while our Lasts!!!

Great news, Flexcar is currently running a "Friends and Family" promotion thru July 7th. Tell your loved ones to sign-up for Flexcar and we'll waive their $35 first year membership fee.

It's as easy as 1-2-3:

1) Send them to www.Flexcar.com , click "Join Now" at the top of the page, then select "Personal" Plans.
2) Have them fill in the promotion code: ffep7FLEX
3) Have them fill in your email address in Box 17A (same as the one on your Flexcar account)

Not a member yet? No worries. Sign-up today, then refer your friends and family with the above steps. You'll receive a $7 driving credit per referral, up to $49!

Remember, more members = more Flexcars = better car locations + better rates.

Thanks for helping revolutionize the way Americans use automobiles while saving your loved ones time and money.

I can see this being a totally legit thing. I'm just looking for confirmation, that's all. It'll probably take until after the holiday here in the U.S. to get a response from the company, so stay tuned.

Related:

• FlexCar expands with hybrid car sharing in Baltimore
• Flexcar car-sharing comes to Pittsburgh
• Flexcar brings hybrid sharing to University of Florida for $5.50 an hour
• Low-car diet: top five questions about Flexcar answered

Add Pittsburgh to the list of about a dozen American cities where car-sharing from Flexcar is availble.

Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl drove a Flexcar onto PPG Plaza earlier this week to welcome the car-sharing company to his city. The user rules are similar to other car-sharing services, namely that vehicles are parked around downtown and Flexcar members pay about $10 an hour to use them (There is also a $35 annual membership fee, but that's waived under certain business plans, and it's waived after the first year for anyone who drives at least twice during the year). Your $10 covers gas, insurance, 150 free miles, parking, maintenance and a 24/7 emergency service. The service starts this month with 20 fuel-efficient vehicles, including hybrids, pickups, minivans and cars, like the MINI Cooper.

You can read all about it at the Flexcar website.

Related:

• FlexCar expands with hybrid car sharing in Baltimore

[Source: Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership]

Marketers swarm over college campuses each year trying to entice students to sample their products and form brand loyalty that will sit with them the rest of their life. Green cars enthusiasts are getting into the college market with a new program launched by Flexcar, the car-sharing program. Flexcar is the first national company to offer car-sharing for drivers under 21.

Most college students, especially those who live on-campus, are perfect candidates for sharing vehicles. Parking at most schools is terrible, most events you need to go to are within walking, biking or bus distance, and a lot of students don't have a lot of money to sink into gas and/or repairs. Sharing a car has been available to those over 21 (faculty and staff) at campuses across the country, and now all those traditional freshmen and sophomores can get into the act as well. Students must have a clean driving record, supplemental insurance, parental approval and pay a refundable deposit before joining the program.

The program will be available at six campuses (Emory University, University of Maryland, University of Portland and the Berkeley, Los Angeles and San Diego campuses of the University of California). Car-sharing at other schools is in the works, and interested schools should contact Flexcar to get involved in the future.

[Source: Flexcar via The Auto Channel]

I've been having fun experimenting with a variety of transportation alternatives in the month since I began my low car diet. I've bussed a lot, taken the light rail known locally as the "Max," even riding transport for free in "Fareless Square." My husband had made plentiful use of the bike and ride option (he sticks his bike on the front rack on the bus before work, then rides home late at night when the schedules are inconvenient or nonexistent). We've done the Flexcar thing, and I've biked a ton.

But the easiest option, by far, is simply to walk. I walk to the grocery store with the boys and fill the bottom of my sturdy jogging stroller with canned goods, milk, wine, veggies, bread, juice, and goodies of all kinds. I walk to the neighborhood coffee shop when I need to get away from the house and jump on their free WiFi. I walk to the high school track in our neighborhood to do intervals and let my four-year-old play in the sand. I walk to the knitting cafe for companionship and a yarn fix.

Biking and bussing may be faster, and the Flexcar? It's super cool. But walking is its own reward and it's just so much easier! No helmets, no car seats, no locks or reservations. Just throw the little one in the stroller (he can even climb in himself!), throw my gear in the cargo hold and away we go. Best of all: it's utterly, completely, in every way, free.