is happy to see that car sharing is growing within the U.S.! CarShare Vermont just celebrated its 1 year birthday!… http://bit.ly/cAruHs
Archive for January, 2010
is happy to see that car shari…
Thursday, January 28th, 2010Have a burning I-GO question? …
Thursday, January 28th, 2010Have a burning I-GO question? Check out recently revamped FAQ page for more answers than you probably want! http://bit.ly/aa1Q7T
Live in Wicker Park or Bucktow…
Wednesday, January 27th, 2010Live in Wicker Park or Bucktown? We do! Our office is right in the heart of Wicker Park, which made today’s… http://bit.ly/b4PH80
I-GO members get discounts on …
Tuesday, January 26th, 2010I-GO members get discounts on area goods & services http://bit.ly/97t0HL
We’ve just redesigned the Chi-…
Tuesday, January 26th, 2010We’ve just redesigned the Chi-Town Rewards section on our website. CTR is a cross-promotional program that gives… http://bit.ly/aTVRfU
I-GO revamps member discount program
Tuesday, January 26th, 2010
It’s been tucked away on our website for a long time — and many of our members may not be aware of it — but Chi-Town Rewards just got a whole lot better.
Chi-Town Rewards is a cross-promotional program that entitles I-GO members to discounts at a wide variety of businesses operating in the Chicagoland area. To redeem an offer, members simply show their I-GO smart cards (or, in the instance of online-only businesses, their member ID number). The participating businesses range from restaurants to fitness providers to gift shops to environmental services — and a whole lot more. Lots of them will have a Chi-Town Rewards decal we provide (pictured above) which is displayed in their businesses to indicate they participate in the program.
We’ve just redesigned this section of our website to make it much easier to sift through the offers and find out more about the businesses.
Now you can search by location or business type, and the resulting posts include short descriptions and photos of the business, website links and other contact info, and, of course, the discount offer. The posts can also be printed out separately in a new window by clicking on the business title. That way, the print-out also functions as a coupon the member can take to the business, along with their smart card, to redeem the offer.
It gets better:
- We’ve also initiated a new “Deal of the Month” featured item in this section. It will appear in the left column of the Chi-Town Rewards page. These are special offers or contests that go beyond the standard day-to-day discounts. So we encourage you to check this page regularly for updated Deals of the Month.
- And we now have a simple web application form that business owners or managers can fill out to join the program. All you have to do is make an offer you think our members would appreciate. Pretty simple. But we’re also looking to collaborate with businesses in other ways, too, so if you’d like to suggest an event we can pitch in at, or some sort of web promotion, hey, we’re all ears. By all means, give us a shout.
So check it out, I-GO members. It’s just one more way we’re helping you save bucks. (No small consideration in this brutal economy.) Dig in!
Green Dream Group
Monday, January 25th, 2010
www.greendreamgroup.com
(773) 271-5310
I-GO Member offer: 10% off home energy audit
Green Dream Group is an independent, scientific, building-performance verification firm, specializing in home energy audits, green building certification, financial incentive programs, and training for building professionals. The company, led by Grace and Corbett Lunsford (pictured, right), helps home and building owners lower utility bills, increase the comfort, durability, air quality, and energy efficiency of the living space, and do good for the environment. There is an endless tidal wave of “green” advice being given, with organics, recycling, wind power, and hybrid fuel vehicles getting much of the attention. Green Dream focuses on the most universal element: improving your building performance.
Rather see $465 million go to …
Monday, January 25th, 2010Rather see $465 million go to clean, green tech than Wall Street. Let’s hope Tesla is worth that massive vote of… http://bit.ly/4nY5af
Public transit’s perks
Monday, January 25th, 2010
In a recent Auto Blog Green post, contributor Sebastian Blanco writes:
“According to a new study by the American Public Transportation Association (which, yes, has an interest in the results), the average public transportation rider can save $9,242 a year by ditching a car.”
The post includes APTA’s news release on how the stats were deduced. And you can check out their online calculator to ascertain how much you’d save personally.
Chicago fares well in the rankings among cities: We’re fourth in savings at averages of $946 monthly and $11,357 annually. New York, Boston, and San Francisco are ranked first, second, and third.
Blanco adds:
“A car-sharing option was not included in the APTA model, but it’s easy enough to see that going by bus and rail most days and using the savings to rent a car when needed certainly puts one ahead financially, if public transit is a viable option.”
That option certainly extends to I-GO, which offers a joint transit smart card with the CTA. We estimate that members who’ve sold a car or shed one in switching to car sharing can save as much as $5,000 a year in reduced transportation expenses.
And in this economy, those savings can mean quite a lot for many of us.
According to a recent NYT’s ar…
Thursday, January 21st, 2010According to a recent NYT’s article, therapists have seen a rise in bickering between couples and families over… http://bit.ly/74n3Kl
wants to thank you for sharing…
Wednesday, January 20th, 2010wants to thank you for sharing your already broken (and kept) New Years resolutions with us. We’d also like to… http://bit.ly/6XrTfW
wants you to fess up to which …
Tuesday, January 19th, 2010wants you to fess up to which resolutions you’ve already broken and which you’re still trying to keep. Let us know… http://bit.ly/5ywTBA
Today is your LAST DAY to come…
Tuesday, January 19th, 2010Today is your LAST DAY to come clean and let us know which New Year’s resolutions you’ve already broken (and which… http://bit.ly/8VJIwV
David Soderberg, Baird & Warner
Friday, January 15th, 2010
www.chicagohomegallery.com
david@chicagohomegallery.com
2762 N. Lincoln Ave.
(773) 770-7517 (direct); (773) 458-8239 (mobile)
I-GO Member offer: One-year free home warranty for new buyer or seller’s new home
Baird & Warner realtor David Soderberg is a Chicago native whose diverse background includes 10 years of marketing, promotion and advertising, merchandising and product development. That experience ensures you’ll receive the best customer service possible, astute analysis, and savvy negotiating skills during complex transactions. Soderberg will find you the home of your dream or market your home to the right buyer for the highest price in a reasonable amount of time and with little stress.
In Sight Sign Company
Friday, January 15th, 2010
www.insightsigncompany.com
1631 W. Belmont Ave.
(773) 267-4002
I-GO Member offer: 10% off any sign or banner order, $250 off any full vehicle wrap
In Sight Sign Company is Chicagoland’s first choice for signs, banners, and vehicle wraps. They create custom-designed promotional products that express their clients’ services and image, from small start-up businesses to large corporate franchises. In Sight exceeds its clients’ expectations by combining creativity, quality service, and fair pricing in a fast, timely manner.
Check our our Twin Cities car-…
Friday, January 15th, 2010Check our our Twin Cities car-sharing pals and CUB’s new online Energy Saver app. http://bit.ly/7daZY4
Got any product design know-ho…
Friday, January 15th, 2010Got any product design know-how? Ideas for eco-friendly TVs or computers? Check out the International E-Waste… http://bit.ly/4zoxG9
Energy-saving solidarity
Friday, January 15th, 2010Minneapolis-St. Paul’s Star-Tribune gives some love this week to HOURCAR, our fellow regional non-profit car-sharing pals in the Twin Cities.
HOURCAR is a more modestly scaled endeavor than I-GO, but they’ve quietly been making steady progress in introducing Minnesotans to car sharing. And we share a lot in common with them. HOURCAR was launched by the St. Paul non-profit org Neighborhood Energy Connection (NEC), which pursues many of the same aims as CNT Energy, a division of the Center for Neighborhood Technology (CNT), the non-profit which launched I-GO in 2002. Both help consumers obtain information and services they need to control energy costs and reduce their carbon footprint.
And if you’re an I-GO member traveling to the Twin Cities, you can join HOURCAR for free!
And then there’s CUB Energy Saver, a multi-pronged initiative of the Illinois non-profit Citizens Utility Board that helps local residents save money on bills, manage energy use, and team up with friends and neighbors to make their communities more energy-efficient. The CUB Energy Saver site is a pretty cool social-media-styled online app that lets you configure and monitor your energy use, join groups, write blog posts, get updates on events, and more. It’s very well designed, we must say. Kudos to CUB on this one. We encourage you to check it out for yourself. When you sign up (for free), they’ll even send you a free compact fluorescent light bulb.
Two weeks into the New Year an…
Friday, January 15th, 2010Two weeks into the New Year and we’ve already broken a few resolutions- what about you? Tell us which you’ve broken… http://bit.ly/4mKDZQ
I-GO goes to Washington
Thursday, January 14th, 2010I-GO CEO Sharon Feigon represented I-GO Car Sharing at the Transportation Research Board’s 89th annual meeting this week in Washington, D.C. The event surveys all transportation modes, with more than 3,000 presentations in nearly 600 sessions addressing topics of interest to policy makers, administrators, practitioners, researchers, and representatives of government, industry, and academic institutions.
On Wednesday, Jan. 13, Sharon cochaired the Shared Vehicle Committee. She also emailed us this link to a Megan McConville post on TheCityFix.com, an online resource for sustainable transport news, advocacy and “best practice” solutions from around the world. The blog is produced by EMBARQ – The World Resources Institute Center for Sustainable Transport, a non-profit organization that works with cities in the developing world to catalyze and help implement sustainable solutions to problems of urban mobility.
McConville reports on a session about car sharing and bike sharing. Among the more interesting highlights:
- An estimated 9 to 13 vehicles are removed from the road for each car sharing vehicle deployed.
- Connectivity to public transit, the age of the transit station, and the average employment rate had a positive impact on car-sharing market share.
- There are 100 bike-sharing programs in 125 cities with more than 140,000 bikes, with another 45 planned in 22 countries in 2010. (Pictured at right: Washington D.C.’s SmartBike DC bike-share program.)
- The next stage for bike sharing involves flexible/mobile docking stations, smart card integration with other transportation modes, and advanced technologies including GPS, touchscreen kiosks, and e-bikes.
We’d love to see that sort of high-tech integration in Chicago. I-GO, for its part, already has a joint smart card with the CTA, enabling access to both our fleet of cars and CTA buses and trains. But we hope that’s just the start of even more exciting multi-modal systems to come.
Two weeks into the New Year an…
Thursday, January 14th, 2010Two weeks into the New Year and we’ve already broken a few resolutions- what about you? Tell us which you’ve… http://bit.ly/6fXBH8
Further evidence of the Chines…
Wednesday, January 13th, 2010Further evidence of the Chinese eroding America’s technological edge? Might be sheer hell on the slopes of Yosemite… http://bit.ly/6LeOQq
A big propandistic in its own …
Tuesday, January 12th, 2010A big propandistic in its own way, and short on detail, this bite-size video pitch from Oxfam America still hits… http://bit.ly/6Dnz7X
Hybrids are still 3% of the ma…
Tuesday, January 12th, 2010Hybrids are still 3% of the market, but nearly 50% at I-GO – http://nyti.ms/8dCmiO
Compact, lighter, more maneuve…
Tuesday, January 12th, 2010Compact, lighter, more maneuverable, better fuel efficiency, cheaper. Euro-styled and blindingly green. Aimed at… http://bit.ly/5Pt533
was happy to learn that 2009 m…
Tuesday, January 12th, 2010was happy to learn that 2009 marked the first year since WWII that the number of cars scrapped exceeded the number… http://bit.ly/5Nr9E8
International Bicycle Fund
Monday, January 11th, 2010
www.ibike.org
ibike@ibike.org
(206) 767-0848
I-GO Member offer: 5% off iBike Tour
The International Bicycle Fund is an independent, non-profit organization that provides technical advice, consulting, strategic planning, material support, and financial support worldwide. Most of its material and financial support is provided as small matching grants to grassroots or community-based organizations undertaking unique initiatives in less developed economies. Some of IBF’s support has gone to training welders in Zimbabwe to make bicycle trailers, advising a community tourism project in Tanzania, supporting a grassroots advocacy group in Uganda, supplying bike parts to Eritrea, supporting a youth mechanics training program in Ghana, funding an environmental education program in India, and donating bikes to Cuba.
IBF’s iBike program offers fascinating small-group bicycle tours to special destinations. Each program is unique, features a mix of activities (some are multi-sport), and highlights the diversity and most interesting facets of the area. While time is spent exploring history, economy, culture and environment, there is bountiful back-road bicycle touring to enjoy. Don’t expect the usual crowded destination, walled-off tourist hotel, or insular vans and buses. Do expect a fun, active, intellectual, emotional, spiritual and socially enriching experience. Most programs are two-weeks long, and many are designed to be combined with a subsequent contrasting program to allow for a longer holiday.
All I Knead Massage Therapy
Monday, January 11th, 2010
www.alliknead.com
1609 Sherman Ave., Suite 208, Evanston
(773) 988-5926
debbie@alliknead.com
I-GO Member offer: $10 off session
Massage therapist Debbie Spack offers a range of services, including Swedish, deep tissue, hot stone, prenatal, infant massage instruction, and chair massage. She is certified in clinical massage, therapeutic pregnancy massage, and infant massage instruction, which teaches parents and caregivers how to massage their infants — a wonderful bonding experience that benefits both.
Healthy Green Goods
Monday, January 11th, 2010
www.healthygreengoods.com
702 Main St., Evanston
(847) 864-9098
I-GO Member offer: 10% off entire purchase
Healthy Green Goods carries a wide array of all-natural and organic products made by manufacturers who fully disclose their ingredients. Its knowledgeable staff can help you through the maze of figuring out which products are right for you. The store’s diverse product line includes organic mattresses, bedding, linens, and towels; all-natural wool carpeting; zero-VOC premium paint; all-natural and organic cleaning products; solvent-free nail polish & nail polish remover; and much more. They also provide services such as green house call analyses and measuring and installation for carpet and Earthshades.
Green Home Experts
Monday, January 11th, 2010
www.ghexperts.com
823 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park
(708) 660-1GHE (1443)
GoGreen@GHExperts.com
I-GO Member offer: 10% off all in-stock items up to $100
Green Home Experts is a specialty retailer in environmentally friendly building and home supplies. For your next remodel, addition, or renovation check out their competitive prices on flooring, paint, insulation, water fixtures, counter tops, cabinets, mattresses, and more. But you don’t have to wait for your next big project to make your domicile a green home. Green Home Experts carries fluorescent light bulbs, non-toxic cleaning supplies, water saving devices, organic linens, garden supplies, and even rain barrels!
Ridge Art
Monday, January 11th, 2010
www.ridgeart.com
21 Harrison St., Oak Park
(708) 848-4062
I-GO Member offer: 20% off purchase
Oak Park’s Ridge Art sells and exhibits a diverse range of folk art from Haiti, Africa, and other parts of the world. Its collections include Haitian voodoo flags, metal sculpture made from recycled steel drums, West and East African tribal arts, works on paper, masks, French colonial ceramics, and more.
Pictured: Marassa, Haitian voodoo flag, Joseph Oldof Pierre
Rent Smart Chicago
Monday, January 11th, 2010
www.rentsmartchicago.com
3700 N. Ashland Ave., (773) 248-8888; 5650 N. Broadway, (773) 275-2700; 3329 N. Broadway, (773) 248-4900; 1900 W. Chicago Ave., (773) 645-4130; 2000 S. Michigan Ave., (312) 854-8290
I-GO Member offer: $100 off first month’s rent
Rent Smart is Chicago’s largest and most professional apartment rental broker. Its team includes over 150 agents, most trained and licensed as sales agents — more than any other apartment locator in Chicago. They have five offices in convenient locations throughout Chicago to serve landlord and tenant clients. Rent Smart Chicago also maintains a database management system and employs the latest technology to offer the best and largest selection of apartments, lofts, condos and homes available to rent in Chicago. Whether you’re looking to rent or list a property, start by calling one of their agents, emailing, or by visiting one of their offices.
Amigos & Us
Monday, January 11th, 2010
3223 N. Clark St.
(773) 281-1812
I-GO Member offer: 20% off hemp, organic, bamboo or recycled fabric clothing, 10% off licensed merchandise
Calling all Deadheads. Amigos & Us is still spreading peace, love, and tie-dye at its hippie hangout. Select from a variety of patches and stickers, hippie skirts and tops, hats, bajas and ponchos, tons of tie-dyes, stone jewelry, toe rings and sterling silver rings, Patchwork pants, dresses, bags, decorative glass, and more. Far out, man.
Painted Light Photos & Framing
Monday, January 11th, 2010
paintedlightphotoframing.com
1742 W. Balmoral Ave.
(773) 275-4121
I-GO Member offer: 15% off any first service, 10% off additional services, 20% off in-stock matting
Painted Light Photos & Framing has been rooted in the Andersonville community for close to two decades. They offer photographic and framing services, specializing in photograph restoration. Painted Light also features a gallery/gift shop and plays host to a variety of neighborhood, regional, and national artists and artisans. They emphasize original photography but also show prints and original paintings as well as jewelry, ceramics, and other handmade items and gifts.
Pilates Chicago
Friday, January 8th, 2010
www.pilateschicago.net
1220 W. Morse Ave.
(773) 274-CORE (2673)
info@pilateschicago.net
I-GO Member offer: 10% discount
Pilates Chicago is internationally recognized by the Pilates Method Alliance as meeting the highest standards of Pilates training. They offer private, semi-private, and group Pilates sessions with extensively trained instructors. They also offer apprenticeship-based instructor training. At Pilates Chicago, they know everyone has different needs, so they’ve devise a customized program to meet the needs of each individual.
wants you to know that we’re r…
Thursday, January 7th, 2010wants you to know that we’re ready for this winter weather- all I-GO cars are equipped with a snow brush and snow… http://bit.ly/5NrZsS
wants you to know that we’re r…
Thursday, January 7th, 2010wants you to know that we’re ready for this winter weather- all I-GO cars are equipped with a snow bursh and snow… http://bit.ly/4QTqJV
Who says tofu & truffles don’t…
Thursday, January 7th, 2010Who says tofu & truffles don’t mix? http://bit.ly/6oUyv4
Take our culinary challenge
Thursday, January 7th, 2010
Like to eat well? Have we got an incentive for you.
I-GO will award two gift certificates — for savory, veg-a-licious edibles (like the shiitake-stuffed pot stickers pictured at right) at Evanton’s estimable Blind Faith Café and from truffle and caramel specialist Katherine Anne Confections — to the I-GO member who racks up the most referrals this month.
All you have to do is tell your friends, family, and colleagues to join I-GO. For every approved applicant who names you as the referring member on their application form, we’ll add $20 in free driving credit to your account, and if you have the highest tally from now through January 31 you’ll also be the proud, appetite-stoked recipient of a $25 gift certificate for Blind Faith Café and a $30 gift certificate for Katherine Anne Confections.
This is just the start of a monthly contest campaign we’re launching this month. Every month we’ll be giving out prizes from local businesses, so be sure to check our blog and Facebook page for new contests.
News from I-GO: January 2010 -…
Wednesday, January 6th, 2010News from I-GO: January 2010 – http://eepurl.com/gqb8
New car locations at I-GO: htt…
Tuesday, January 5th, 2010New car locations at I-GO: http://bit.ly/5vzf8O
Our fleet team is getting busy…
Tuesday, January 5th, 2010Our fleet team is getting busy this week, moving cars into the following locations: http://www.facebook.com/igocars/posts/229782521523
New vehicle locations
Tuesday, January 5th, 2010This week, our fleet team will be moving vehicles into the following locations:
CHICAGO
- 1809 E. 71st St.: 2006 silver Scion xB, vehicle #4479
- 1313 E. 60th St.: 2007 blue Toyota Prius, vehicle #4563
- 5500 S. Greenwood St.: 2009 gray Honda Fit, vehicle #4588
- 3201 S. State St.: 2008 red Honda Element, vehicle #4560
- 800 S. Clark St.: 2009 gray Honda CR-V, vehicle #4604
- 929 N. Wells St.: 2009 silver Honda CR-V, vehicle #4442
- 2825 N. Halsted St.: 2007 orange Honda Fit, vehicle #4518
- 7531 N. Clark St., 2009 silver Honda Odyssey, vehicle #4440
EVANSTON
- 504 South Blvd.: 2006 red Scion xB, vehicle #4485
Members will be able to search for these vehicles after logging into our reservation system. They will also be added to the map on our Car Locations page.
Ever get hit with a ticket cou…
Monday, January 4th, 2010Ever get hit with a ticket courtesy of the Illinois Tollway after failing to pay a toll? It’s easy to avoid that… http://bit.ly/5LuxdQ
As of New Year’s Day, I-GO’s F…
Saturday, January 2nd, 2010As of New Year’s Day, I-GO’s Facebook page has 666 fans. This does not bode well for 2010. Come on, No. 667! We… http://bit.ly/5XsdC8
Storage By The Box
Friday, January 1st, 2010
www.storagebythebox.com
888-9-BY THE BOX (888-929-8432)
I-GO Member offer: One free month of storage
Storage By The Box is a self-storage solution for busy urban residents. They provide you with free boxes and packing supplies, and then pick up the boxes at your home. You can then “manage” and have your boxes returned anytime, anywhere, via an online account.
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