New London — Zipsters could soon be Zipping around the city. In Zipcars.

Mayor Daryl Justin Finizio threw down a welcome mat Thursday for Zipcar, the global car-sharing network that offers its members, known as “Zipsters," access to vehicles that can be reserved by the hour (starting at $9.25) or the day ($89) at rates that include gas, insurance and 180 free miles a day.

Newcomers can sign up at zipcar.com.

For many urbanites, it makes a lot more sense than, say, owning your own car, Zipcar maintains.

Finizio, who spoke at a ribbon-cutting ceremony outside City Hall, said New London was proud to be among the first cities in Connecticut to embrace Zipcar, which debuted in Stamford earlier this year and has a presence on several college campuses in the state, including Connecticut College.

Anthony Fatone, a Zipcar general manager who appeared with the mayor, said New London was an ideal location for the company because of the downtown’s proximity to such transportation options as ferries, trains and buses and its high population density.

Zipcar, he said, aims to reduce personal car ownership, promote the use of public transportation and reduce carbon emissions.

Two Zipcars — a Honda Civic and a Kia Soul — were to be made available immediately to Zipcar members who can unlock them by passing a keyless entry card over the windshield.

Once inside, the driver can locate the keys as well as a gas card in the event he needs to fuel up. Only a Zipcar that has been reserved in advance — by phone, computer or mobile application — can be accessed.

New London’s Zipcars are housed at the Water Street Parking Garage. The two-car fleet will be expanded as demand warrants, Fatone said.

“It’s in keeping with what New London has been doing,” Finizio said of the city’s partnership with Zipcar. “We’ve divested our pension funds of investments in fossil fuels and introduced bicycle-sharing. It’s more of the smart-growth thinking that’s gone into the city’s planning.”

Finizio said Zipcars will likely appeal in particular to young people moving into the city.

Bud Bray, a New London resident who attended the ribbon-cutting, praised Zipcar, saying he had had a good experience with the company in Boston, where his daughter had lived for a time.

Founded 15 years ago as a “scrappy startup” in Cambridge, Mass., Zipcar operates in more than 470 U.S. cities and towns and a half-dozen foreign countries. It has nearly a million members and a fleet of more than 10,000 vehicles.

In 2013, it was acquired by Avis Budget Group, which also owns the Avis and Budget car-rental operators.

Fatone said the company provides some 3,500 vehicles at more than 500 locations in New York City.

b.hallenbeck@theday.com

Twitter: @bjhallenbeck