BROOKLYN, N.Y., Aug. 15, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Rainy skies could not dampen the spirits of Brooklyn Boro President Marty Markowitz . Hizzoner cut the bright orange ribbon adorning a Carpingo-emblazoned Fiat 500, part of a fleet of 40 or so cars and trucks that are now carvenientlyTM stationed in a dozen locations in Brooklyn and Queens.
Similar to the ZipCar model, CarpingoTM signup and reservations are online. Upon approval, driver-members pick up or are mailed a swipe card which opens their reserved Carpingo car. The keys are inside. 180 free miles, basic insurance coverage and gas are included with every reservation. A gas card for refills is also in the car. CarpingoTM offers several tiers of membership, with prices as low as $4.50 an hour, and most prices below $10 an hour. Overnight and day rates are also available.
Lauding the spirit of Brooklyn ingenuity in the person of Gil Cygler, founder of Carpingo www.carpingo.com and 2012 Car Rental Executive of the Year, Markowitz reported that the new hourly car share transportation brand will bring over half a million dollars into the Brooklyn economy in its first year. "To those of my age, all I can say is, how sweet it is," declared the Brooklyn Borough President.
Markowitz continued, ". ..Companies like Carpingo are setting the bar for how business should be done. From working with local merchants to promote their businesses; partnering with hospitals to create a ridesharing program that gets patients to their medical appointments; to giving St. Francis College and Berkeley College Brooklyn campus students and new grads job opportunities. Very important! Carpingo has taken the time to get involved in the community to insure that Brooklyn is an even better place."
New York State Assemblyman Alan Maisel, AD 59, and newly-appointed Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce president Carlo Scissura, former Deputy Borough President, were also on hand to give congratulatory remarks.
The event concluded with a speech by Carpingo founder Gil Cygler, followed by the ribbon cutting. "The car rental industry, and travel itself is changing. New generations, facing very different economic and lifestyle factors than generations before, are creating a paradigm shift in transportation consumption," said Cygler.
"What is most gratifying is to be able to build a New York brand that is truly customized for a New York State of mind, and to found and headquarter the company in my own hometown, my beloved borough of Brooklyn!," concluded Cygler.
CarpingoTM cars can be found in the following New York City neighborhoods:
- Boro Park
- Brooklyn Heights
- Clinton Hill/Fort Green
- Cobble Hill
- Crown Heights
- Downtown Brooklyn/Metrotech
- East Flatbush
- Flatlands
- Hunters Point/Long Island City
- Kensington
- Midwood
- Park Slope
- Prospect Heights
- Prospect Lefferts Gardens
- Williamsburg
Additional neighborhoods and boroughs will be added ongoing through the rest of 2012 and throughout 2013.
Photo available on AP Wire via terminal or download at http://budurl.com/CPOpix1
For a .15 second commercial on Carpingo go to: http://www.youtube.com/carpingo
For interviews and information contact:
Karma Martell
KarmaCom Inc
karmaATkarmacom.com