FERNDALE (WWJ) – Looking to get somewhere fast in south Oakland County? You can zip yourself into a zip car in Ferndale to get around town.

Zipcar, the world’s leading car sharing network, on Monday announced a partnership with the City of Ferndale to bring its “wheels when you want them” membership service to area residents, businesses, visitors and students.

Two Zipcars are now available near 9 Mile and Woodward by the hour or by the day. The vehicles are parked in designated spots for convenient pick-up and drop-off and can be reserved in seconds on Zipcar’s mobile app, online or over the phone.

The Zipcar Ferndale fleet features a Jeep Patriot named “Coulter,” in honor of Mayor Dave Coulter, and a Ford Focus Hatchback called “Piana,” after Mayor Pro Tem Melanie Piana. Each reservation includes gas, insurance and 180 miles of driving per day, making it a great option for those looking for ways to save money on the high cost of car ownership.

In addition the new vehicles in Ferndale, Zipcar members can reserve and drive any one of the 130+ vehicles located in Michigan, as well as the 12,000 vehicles in the company’s global fleet.

“Area residents now have all the benefits of car ownership without the cost and hassles, while helping the city reduce congestion and alleviate parking demand,” Monica Wejman, Zipcar Detroit market manager, said in a statement.

Local businesses in Ferndale can also benefit from Zipcar’s presence through the Zipcar for Business (Z4B) program, which offers discounted driving rates Monday through Friday. The Z4B program helps businesses save money, meet environmental sustainability goals and reduce parking requirements by providing employees with access to Zipcar for business needs and other uses.

“I just love this program. We’re long overdue for this coming into our downtown,” said Mayor Pro Tem Melanie Piana.

The launch in Ferndale builds on Zipcar’s success in Detroit, where the company launched in September 2013 with 35 vehicles and has since grown its fleet to more than 50 in popular locations such as downtown, Midtown, Hamtramck, Dearborn and the Detroit Metropolitan Airport.

Prospective members can join the service instantly on Zipcar’s mobile app. For more information on Zipcar in Ferndale, go to zipcar.com/cityofferndale.