The City of Chicago approved, by unanimous vote, a proposal for the city’s second Wal-Mart to be built in Pullman… http://fb.me/x01ECK4s
Archive for June, 2010
The City of Chicago approved, …
Wednesday, June 30th, 2010is digging this minimalist bik…
Wednesday, June 30th, 2010is digging this minimalist bike basket. Very different, yet very sleek. What do you think of it? http://fb.me/vXznvRVW
I-GO loud and proud at the Chi…
Tuesday, June 29th, 2010I-GO loud and proud at the Chicago Pride Parade http://bit.ly/b0qDH3
Check out our pix from this pa…
Tuesday, June 29th, 2010Check out our pix from this past weekend’s Pride Parade. We had a blast once again. Big thanks to our volunteers,… http://fb.me/u8CkXgF4
I-GO at the Chicago Pride Parade
Tuesday, June 29th, 2010I-GO has long been a strong supporter of Chicago’s LGBT community — and vice versa. Once again, we had a blast joining in the annual Pride Parade festivities this past weekend. We brought along a bright red, funky, new I-GO Nissan Cube for the ride along the parade route in Lakeview. I-GO’s Justin Hardesty (in full-on blushing bride regalia) organized the outing, and the Windy City Rollers — Chicago’s roller derby dames nonpareil and, natch, I-GO members — brought their own sets of wheels to the party. Thanks to all our amazing volunteers for chipping in, too!
Couldn’t make it out to the parade? Not to worry. We snapped a few photos to share with you:
Paris plans to start (electric…
Tuesday, June 29th, 2010Paris plans to start (electric) car sharing next September: http://fb.me/DvEvodm5
is reading Bundle’s breakdown …
Tuesday, June 29th, 2010is reading Bundle’s breakdown of car ownership costs in the United States and is happy to be car sharing! http://fb.me/Codok4eJ
Surprise, surprise: Annual car…
Monday, June 28th, 2010Surprise, surprise: Annual car ownership costs are still on the rise as two recent surveys indicate — including… http://fb.me/u0PwnPDh
Studies show cost of car ownership increasing
Monday, June 28th, 2010
The American Automobile Association (AAA) reports in its most recent “Your Driving Costs” annual study that — surprise, surprise — the average price of owning and operating a vehicle in the U.S. has gone up.
The AAA says you can expect to shell out as much as $9,519 per year, assuming 15,000 miles of driving in a medium sedan. The main culprit? Again, no surprise: higher fuel prices. To determine the overall comparative figures, the AAA factored in insurance, license and registration fees plus taxes, depreciation and finance charges as well as the direct operational costs of fuel, maintenance and tires.
That’s more than most of us spend on groceries or utilities, travel, entertainment, clothes and shoes, and hobbies — combined.
Conversely, a typical I-GO member spends only about $2,520 per year on transportation.
That bears repeating: Less than $3K yearly. And many I-GO members spend far less by biking and walking more and using public transit more frequently.
Big difference. And in this economy, it’s an especially big, helpful difference.
All the more reason, we say at I-GO, to support car sharing and adopt it in more communities across the country. Car sharing not only saves money, it’s also good for the environment and makes our communities cleaner, less congested, more beautiful places to live.
And that’s priceless.
The Supreme Court has voted 5-…
Monday, June 28th, 2010The Supreme Court has voted 5-4 to overturn Chicago’s handgun ban. What do you think? http://fb.me/u0k4c2Sd
Have you seen the 3 story eye …
Friday, June 25th, 2010Have you seen the 3 story eye ball that recently went up at Pritzker Park? http://fb.me/AlAMqWD4
really likes this helpful site…
Friday, June 25th, 2010really likes this helpful site for exploring Chicago neighborhoods: http://fb.me/yxF9a2GC
wants to know who is getting t…
Thursday, June 24th, 2010wants to know who is getting the new iPhone 4 that was released today? http://fb.me/D9luPX58
Want to help those impacted by…
Thursday, June 24th, 2010Want to help those impacted by the Gulf oil spill? Drink Abita beer! http://fb.me/C0H26ZvQ
wants you to be careful if you…
Wednesday, June 23rd, 2010wants you to be careful if you’re going out tonight. Chicago is under a tornado watch through 9 p.m. tonight. http://fb.me/ASc8s6Rq
David Byrne playing AV geek to…
Wednesday, June 23rd, 2010David Byrne playing AV geek to our CNT colleague Jacky Grimshaw at this week’s bike forum: priceless. Less… http://fb.me/D4×8Ngsb
Chicago-based photographer Jan…
Wednesday, June 23rd, 2010Chicago-based photographer Jane Fulton talks about her latest project, Crude Awakening, inspired by the recent oil… http://fb.me/Ago7tB5W
Wise Bread is an invaluable bl…
Tuesday, June 22nd, 2010Wise Bread is an invaluable blog that promotes living large on a small budget. Recently, they posted on the money… http://fb.me/A43WNySj
is excited for the launch of b…
Monday, June 21st, 2010is excited for the launch of bike sharing in Chicago this July with Chicago B-cycle! http://fb.me/tnAZlXSS
Keep dry on your commute home …
Friday, June 18th, 2010Keep dry on your commute home tonight! Rain and strong winds on the way: http://fb.me/Crsu0hwo
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Friday, June 18th, 2010loved this interview with Port…
Friday, June 18th, 2010loved this interview with Portland’s super sustainable mayor, Sam Adams (yup, that’s his real name). We… http://fb.me/AooioO5Z
Come to “Wicker Park Fest” Sat…
Thursday, June 17th, 2010Come to “Wicker Park Fest” Saturday, July 31 at 12:00 pm until <br />Sunday, August 1 at 10:00 pm. Showcasing this… http://fb.me/BiEufbu8
Come to “Milwaukee Ave Arts Fe…
Thursday, June 17th, 2010Come to “Milwaukee Ave Arts Festival” Friday, July 23 at 12:00 pm until <br />Tuesday, August 24 at 11:00 pm. This… http://fb.me/CtKgDpXd
Come to “Folk & Roots Festival…
Thursday, June 17th, 2010Come to “Folk & Roots Festival” Saturday, July 10 at 12:00 pm until <br />Sunday, July 11 at 10:00 pm. Folk &… http://fb.me/BgoiS1XY
Come to “Folk & Roots Festival…
Thursday, June 17th, 2010Come to “Folk & Roots Festival” Saturday, July 10 at 12:00 pm until <br />Sunday, July 11 at 10:00 pm. Folk &… http://fb.me/BgoiS1XY
Come to “Evanston 4th of July …
Thursday, June 17th, 2010Come to “Evanston 4th of July Parade” Sunday, July 4 from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm. As many as 140 entrants are expected… http://fb.me/B4bY6wnP
Cycle killer, qu’est-ce que c’…
Thursday, June 17th, 2010Cycle killer, qu’est-ce que c’est? Hardly. Our office mate Jacky Grimshaw, CNT’s VP of Policy, is part of a bike… http://fb.me/B38WqUHz
More miles = summer smiles
Thursday, June 17th, 2010
Summer in ChiTown means baseball. Chilling on the lakefront. Street fests. Al fresco dining.
And road trips!
Whether you’re en route to Milwaukee, the Indiana Dunes, or Michigan’s Harbor Country, I-GO’s the way to go this summer. Effective Tuesday, June 15, 2010, and running through midnight on Monday, September 6, 2010, we’re giving our free mileage policy a boost that’ll save you money whether you’re headed out of town for a weekend or just need a car available round-the-clock closer to home.
Here’s the deal:
- You get 150 free miles included on all trips lasting up to 24 hours. If your reservation does not exceed 24 hours, it’s $.40/mile for every mile over 150 miles.
- After 24 hours have lapsed, we’ll give you 25 free miles for each additional hour up to a maximum of 150 miles. For every mile over 300 miles on your trip, you’ll be charged $.40 per mile.
When you consider that every car in I-GO’s fuel-efficient, low-emission fleet (nearly half our cars are hybrids) already gets great mileage already, it’s road-tripping at its greenest.
Please note:
- The 300-mile-maximum option applies only to all-day-rate vehicles with reservations between 30 and 72 hours. The maximum reservation is 72 hours.
- You get 25 additional free miles for each hour between 24-30. There is a 300 mile cap at the 30th hour.
- The GO Standard driving plan also includes an all-day-rate option that can be used eight times a year to take advantage of this offer.
So get out there and enjoy these fleeting summer days. Our affordable, convenient cars are waiting for you.
CNT & I-GO greet earthlings at the Adler
Thursday, June 17th, 2010
We saw stars when the Adler announced it was bidding on the retired space shuttle Atlantis for a proposed addition to the planetarium. While we’re waiting for that stellar sight, though, we’re more than content to pal up with the Center for Neighborhood Technology tonight at the Adler for a more earthbound event.
Peter Haas, CNT’s Chief Research Scientist, is the featured speaker at the Alder After Dark program tonight, which starts at 6pm at the Adler, 224 S. Michigan Avenue. And I-GO will be there, too, to give a rocket boost to car sharing, offering discount membership signups. Plus, you can sip cocktails, graze on appetizers, and peek through the Doane Observatory telescope, the largest telescope in the Midwest accessible to the public. Admission is $7 for Adler members, $10 for non-members, and if you bike and show your helmet, you get $5 off. Far out, man.
Our office mate, Peter, will give a presentation covering CNT’s work on location efficiency. CNT has long promoted the symbiotic advantage of pairing housing development and public transportation. Its advocacy efforts on a local, state, and national level have led to the creation of such programs as the Housing + Transportation Affordability Index, which measures the true cost of housing based on its location by measuring the transportation costs associated with place, and the Location Efficient Mortgage, which helps people become homeowners in location efficient communities.
Much like energy efficiency, location efficiency can drive how a household uses economic and natural resources in a more or less sustainable manner. Living in a community with access to goods, services, and jobs without dependence on cars uses resources in a more sustainable manner. Peter’s talk will examine how CNT measures location efficiency, its driving mechanisms, and how it can be used to promote more sustainable decisions by national, regional, and household decision makers.
Earth first, folks.
Get more free miles from I-GO …
Wednesday, June 16th, 2010Get more free miles from I-GO this summer! – http://eepurl.com/C2zF
Need a mid-day work break? Ch…
Tuesday, June 15th, 2010Need a mid-day work break? Check out this map Forbes just released – not too surprising, but still pretty interesting: http://bit.ly/daFSXt
More miles = summer smiles at …
Tuesday, June 15th, 2010More miles = summer smiles at I-GO http://bit.ly/d2XDy2
Road trippin’ anytime soon? Mo…
Tuesday, June 15th, 2010Road trippin’ anytime soon? Moving into a new place & need an I-GO car for a couple of days? You’ll like this:… http://bit.ly/drvGcl
Come to “YPC – Strategic Insig…
Tuesday, June 15th, 2010Come to “YPC – Strategic Insights w/ CEO of I-GO, Sharon Feigon” Tomorrow from 5:30 pm to 8:00 pm. 415 North… http://bit.ly/9PVHxy
Did you miss the Chicago World…
Tuesday, June 15th, 2010Did you miss the Chicago World Naked Bike Ride 2010? Check out the photo gallery Time Out Chicago put together: http://bit.ly/9zZwvb
Bike to Work Week is in full g…
Monday, June 14th, 2010Bike to Work Week is in full gear and I-GO and CNT (Center for Neighborhood Technology, our parent org) are once… http://bit.ly/9Sudxb
Party poopers. http://bit.ly/9…
Monday, June 14th, 2010Party poopers. http://bit.ly/9nLU7D
The innovative eco-savvy rides…
Friday, June 11th, 2010The innovative eco-savvy rides on display at Uncommon Ground’s alt-trans fair yesterday spanned the green gamut. We… http://bit.ly/bcKRDe
Green mobile medley
Friday, June 11th, 2010We snapped a few pix of yesterday’s alternative transportation fair at Uncommon Ground. I-GO charged into the event with one of our Prius plug-ins, an ultra-efficient ride that gets up to 100mpg. There were lots of other cool sights on hand, too, that give us more hope for a future when energy-efficient, eco-friendly transportation rules the day. For a full description and captions of each photo, click here.
If you’re planning to drive an…
Friday, June 11th, 2010If you’re planning to drive anywhere near the loop today, you might want to reconsider. Between the Blackhawks… http://bit.ly/cuND8j
Next week is Bike to Work Week…
Thursday, June 10th, 2010Next week is Bike to Work Week. Think your office has the pedal mettle? Get registered with our pals at Active… http://bit.ly/cJk6jW
@BetsyM Welcome to mature mobi…
Wednesday, June 9th, 2010@BetsyM Welcome to mature mobility, Betsy. Thanks for joining!
Happy photo of the day. (Snapp…
Wednesday, June 9th, 2010Happy photo of the day. (Snapped at Do-Division Fest this past weekend.) http://bit.ly/c8L3QQ
Want to check out a Tesla Road…
Wednesday, June 9th, 2010Want to check out a Tesla Roadster? Zero electric motorcycle? Veggie oil vehicles and electric bicycles? We’ll be… http://bit.ly/dpnHn4
I-GO plugs into alt-transportation fair
Wednesday, June 9th, 2010
One of our fave hangouts in Chicago — Uncommon Ground at 1401 W. Devon Ave. in Rogers Park — is hosting another alternative transportation show this Thursday from 6 to 8pm. It’s part of the uber-green restaurant/bar/music venue’s monthly Green Room Sessions program, which highlight environmentally progressive organizations, goods, and services.
I-GO has been a featured guest at a few of these deals. And they’re all well worth checking out. But we really love the alternative transportation-themed evening, which has become a popular annual highlight of the Green Room Sessions. Most of it takes place in UC’s enclosed parking lot, which is equipped with electrical outlets for plug-in electric vehicles — such as the plug-in Prius we’ll be displaying.
I-GO has two such plug-ins in its fleet: at 201 E. Randolph St. in the Millennium Park north garage and at 900 S. Clark in the AMLI residential development garage. We partnered with ComEd to convert the Priuses, which are equipped with sophisticated lithium-ion battery packs developed by A123 Systems, one of the U.S.’s most exciting, new green tech innovators. Within their electric driving range, these cars are capable of up to 100mpg fuel efficiency, which further helps us reduce the amount of CO2 emissions from our already very low-emissions fleet. And we plan to add more of them to the fleet in the near future.
Besides our plug-in, you can check out a variety of green transportation options at this event, like the all-electric Tesla Roadster sportscar, a Zero electric motorcycle, hybrids, bio-diesel vehicles, veggie oil vehicles, cargo bicycles, electric bicycles, scooters, and lots more. I-GO member Joe Baldwin will be there to talk about his Mobile Garden proposed concept for the CTA, and so will a rep from Carbon Day Automotive, who will display a ChargePoint charging station for EVs.
Uncommon Ground also dishes out some delicious, locally sourced food and drink. (Some of it courtesy of its own huge rooftop kitchen garden.) Enjoy free appetizers featuring the product of a local farmer or producer prepared by Uncommon Ground’s Executive Chef Brian Millman.
We hope to see you there!
Congrats to I-GO member Tiara …
Monday, June 7th, 2010Congrats to I-GO member Tiara Griffin for winning the second-month round of our I-GO public transit ad spotting… http://bit.ly/bTjoev
I-GO’s making an I-PASS at you…
Friday, June 4th, 2010I-GO’s making an I-PASS at you – http://eepurl.com/AZox
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Friday, June 4th, 2010Prescription for irony: a Humm…
Thursday, June 3rd, 2010Prescription for irony: a Hummer with a bicycle racked on the back. We’re thinking the carbon offset doesn’t quite… http://bit.ly/bKaUiN
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Wednesday, June 2nd, 2010Come to “Pride Parade” Sunday,…
Tuesday, June 1st, 2010Come to “Pride Parade” Sunday, June 27 from 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm. I-GO will be showing our support yet again at what… http://bit.ly/9fgduG
Come to “Custer’s Last Stand” …
Tuesday, June 1st, 2010Come to “Custer’s Last Stand” Saturday, June 19 at 10:00 am until <br />Sunday, June 20 at 7:00 pm. Since 1972,… http://bit.ly/9Es0X2
I-GO Study Reveals Positive Environmental Impact of Car Sharing
Tuesday, June 1st, 2010I-GO Car Sharing members reduced CO2 emissions in Chicago by 45,718 metric tons in 2009 and saved $24 million by not buying cars, gas, and insurance.
Those statistics are among the findings in a recently completed environmental impact study conducted by I-GO, a non-profit organization dedicated to reducing car ownership and harmful greenhouse gas emissions through car sharing. The results are based on annual survey research compiled from I-GO’s diverse membership, which is spread across the metropolitan Chicago area and has doubled in the past three years, attracted by dramatically lower costs and environmental benefits of car sharing versus car ownership.
As the BP oil spill proceeds unchecked in the Gulf of Mexico, wreaking environmental and economic devastation, and posing serious questions about the merits of offshore drilling and our thirst for oil at any price, consumers can help offset our dependence on fossil fuels by turning to car sharing.
It’s been estimated that U.S. automobiles and light trucks are responsible for nearly half of all greenhouse gases emitted by automobiles globally, and carbon dioxide emissions from personal vehicles in the United States equaled 314 million metric tons in 2004, according to a 2006 study by the Environmental Defense Fund. That study determined that while Americans own only 30 percent of the 700 million vehicles that are in use worldwide, cars in the U.S. account for a disproportionate amount of greenhouse gas emissions because they are driven farther, have lower fuel economy standards, and burn fuel with higher levels of carbon than many of the cars in other countries.
I-GO’s study indicates that its members effectively removed 9,451 cars from the roads, given that nearly half of its members reported selling or postponing the purchase of a car when they joined. Each I-GO car replaces 15 to 20 privately owned cars. I-GO members also achieved a reduction of approximately 119,558,984 vehicle miles traveled (VMT) in 2009, in comparison to the estimated amount of miles they would have driven had they not enrolled in a car sharing program. And they prevented an estimated 11.5 metric tons of volatile organic compounds (VOC) and 16 metric tons of mono-nitrogen oxides NO and NO2 (Nox) from otherwise polluting the atmosphere.
I-GO members reserve cars by the hour only when they need them, averaging short trips of two to three hours in duration, and drive 97 percent less per year, on average, than typical Chicago car owners. They rely more on public transit, bicycles, and walking as well. And I-GO employs only fuel-efficient, low-emission vehicles in its fleet. Gas-electric hybrid cars comprise approximately 40 percent of I-GO’s fleet, which also includes two plug-in hybrid electric vehicles capable of up to 100 mpg fuel efficiency. I-GO membership can help households reduce typical annual transportation costs of $7,300 by as much as $5,000 a year.
Come to “Bike to Work Rally” F…
Tuesday, June 1st, 2010Come to “Bike to Work Rally” Friday, June 18 from 7:30 am to 10:00 am. As a strong supporter of alternative modes… http://bit.ly/dfHXtk
Come to “Andersonville Midsomm…
Tuesday, June 1st, 2010Come to “Andersonville Midsommarfest” Saturday, June 12 at 11:00 am until <br />Sunday, June 13 at 10:00 pm…. http://bit.ly/bk8db7
Come to “Green Room Session @ …
Tuesday, June 1st, 2010Come to “Green Room Session @ Uncommon Ground” Thursday, June 10 from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm. The Green Room Sessions… http://bit.ly/aP20Ma
Come to “Do-Division Street Fe…
Tuesday, June 1st, 2010Come to “Do-Division Street Fest” Saturday, June 5 at 12:00 pm until <br />Sunday, June 6 at 10:00 pm. The 10 city… http://bit.ly/bCCFFl
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