Oregon Public Broadcasting

The national car-sharing program Zipcar kicks off its third annual event entitled "Low Car diet" Monday.  As Andrew Theen reports, 28 Portlanders will give up their car for a month and get a Zipcar if they're in a pinch.

Zipcar is riding the high tide of increased gas prices to record membership.  So officials say the month-long promotion, which offers free service to 28 people isn't intended to create new customers.

Melody Valdini, one of the participants, says she'll use the Zipcar for grocery runs and other errands.  Valdini hopes giving up her car jump-starts her effort to commute by bike.  She takes the bus to work because driving is too costly.

Melody Valdini: "It's getting so insanely expensive to drive a car, and PSU where I work they really, I think they have a great counter-incentive there because parking is insanely expensive."

Valdini said in the past she's worried about the safety of biking to work but she's committed now.

Zipcar officials say more than 8,000 Portlanders use the service, and that  nationwide, their membership has doubled in the last year.