JUNE 2009

I-GO dials up new mobile reservations site

I-GO has always been about mobile convenience. But now we’re really on the move.

Smartphone fans, take a deep breath, tilt your touch screens and flex those thumbs: I-GO now has an online reservation site configured for iPhone, BlackBerry, and other web-enabled mobile devices.

Bookmark it, baby:

http://reservations.igocars.org/mobile

Keep in mind it’s designed for phones, not your desktop monitor, though you can get a basic idea of its functions on the latter. (It just won’t look half as cool.) iPhone users can also try out a desktop demo here.

Sweet, huh? We’re calling it “I-GO on the go.”

Now it’s exceptionally easy to log in to your online account any time, anywhere. The mobile site is a distilled, highly intuitive version of our online reservation system, customized with larger search buttons and easy-to-read drop-down menus. Search for cars by date and time, location preferences, vehicle type, and amenities just as you would on your desktop computer.

Needless to say, grabbing an I-GO car in one of the 30-plus neighborhoods we serve is now literally in the palm of your hand.

The mobile site also makes the Chicago Card Plus/I-GO Card—I-GO’s joint smartcard initiative with CTA—that much more convenient. Reserve an I-GO car within seconds that’s located at or near an upcoming stop on a CTA rail line or bus route. Next stop: I-GO.

Please note: There is a $2.99 charge the first time you use the mobile site to make, extend, cancel, or release a reservation. This will help us offset the cost of building, maintaining, and adding future enhancements to to this special feature. The fee will appear on your next month’s invoice, and all further use of the mobile site is entirely free.

I-GO on the go. Now the city’s your car-sharing oyster.

New car locations

Lincoln Park Whole Foods Market, 1550 N. Kingsbury St: Toyota Prius, Vehicle ID# 4521
Rogers Park The Morgan at Loyola Station, 1200 W. Arthur: Honda Fit, Vehicle ID# 4564

Check out our Flickr photos of Whole Foods Market’s opening-day festivities. I-GO has the only car-sharing vehicle at the ultra-mod new store in Lincoln Park, which supports local businesses and shares our green sensibilities. I-GO now has car locations at five WFM stores.

The Morgan at Loyola Station is a new, mixed-use, upscale residential and retail development that’s put its money where its green-advocating mouth is. That includes car sharing for residents and a whole lot more.

Bound for the ‘burbs: I-GO has initiated the first phase of a new suburban expansion that will include close to 50 cars added to the fleet at carefully managed intervals over the next several months. For currently scouting new locations in Skokie, Evanston, and Oak Park. Stay tuned to our blog Motormouth, Facebook page, Twitter feed, and upcoming newsletters for updates and details.

Upcoming events

Hyde Park’s ‘Community Art Fair’
Saturday & Sunday, June 6 & 7, 10:30am-6pm
57th St. & Dorchester Ave.
Hyde Park will be featuring its local artists and vendors again this year in the 2009 Community Art Fair. Come check out Hyde Park’s finest. When you’re done, feel free to mosey on over to the always spectacular 57th Street Art Fair, which runs concurrently with the Community Art Fair. I-GO will be there promoting our Hyde Park cars. If you would like to help spread the word about I-GO, please give Lauren a shout at lauren@igocars.org.

Oak Park’s ‘A Day in Our Village’
Sunday, June 7, 11am-6pm
Scoville Park near Lake Street & Oak Park Avenue
A Day in Our Village provides an opportunity for current and prospective residents to discover the diversity and variety of cultural, social service, business, educational and religious organizations and groups in the village. I-GO will be one of the 100 Oak Park entities involved in the city’s festivities at beautiful Scoville Park. I-GO is looking for enthusiastic, local volunteers to inform Oak Parkers about I-GO. If you love I-GO and want other fellow Oak Parkers to share the love, give Lauren a holler at lauren@igocars.org.

Andersonville Midsommarfest
Saturday & Sunday, June 13 & 14, 11am-6pm
5200-5500 N. Clark St.
I-GO is excited to be in the always-fun Andersonville community festival again this year. About 40,000 locals enjoy two days of music, dancing, kids’ entertainment and delicious food. I-GO will be there among vendors from around the region, while ethnic dance troupes and cutting-edge bands keep the party going. I-GO is looking for some trusty volunteers to help keep the party going at the I-GO tent by chatting it up with festival goers. If interested, shoot Lauren an e-mail at lauren@igocars.org.

Mayor Daley’s ‘Bike to Work Rally’
Friday, June 19, 7:30am-10am
Daley Plaza, 50 W. Washington St.
It’s that time of year again. Mayor Daley’s Bike to Work Rally will again take place at the magnificent Daley Plaza. The event celebrates the City’s commitment to make Chicago the best big city for bicycling. The full day of activities includes free breakfast starting at 7:30am, free entertainment throughout the day, a raffle with fun bike prizes, a stunt show, live music, and food and drink provided by Goose Island Brewpub. I-GO will be there showing our support. We do not need volunteers, but feel free to stop by and say “Hey!”

Evanston’s ‘Custer’s Last Stand’
Saturday & Sunday, June 20 & 21, 10am-7pm
Vicinity of 600 Main St., Evanston
Since 1972, Evanston has been hosting the annual festival that features artists, craftspeople, antique dealers, restaurateurs, entertainers and the business community. Since 2004, I-GO has been participating in this award-winning North Shore tradition. We are excited to take part in it again this year and would like volunteer help to ensure our participation is a success. If you’d like to take a stand with us in support of car sharing, send Lauren an e-mail at lauren@igocars.org.

Pride Parade
Sunday, June 28, noon-3pm
Belmont and Halsted to Diversey and Cannon Drive
I-GO is proud to take part in Chicago’s 40th annual Pride Parade. This parade showcases a variety of companies with an average of 200 floats. Every year more than a quarter million people attend this event. Regardless of sexual orientation, this is sure to be a fun event for all! If you’d like to show your I-GO pride and walk with I-GO in the parade, please let Lauren know at lauren@igocars.org.

New Chi-Town Rewards member benefits

I-GO’s Chi-Town Rewards Program is a fantastic way for businesses to reach I-GO’s fast-growing, diverse group of members and it’s an even better way for I-GO members to save money at participating businesses. Just present your I-GO smart card at any participating business for member discounts. For more information on becoming a Chi-Town Rewards business, contact Clare Wisner.

Give some I-GO love to our newest participant:

Healthy Green Goods 702 Main St., Evanston, (847) 864-9098
Healthy Green Goods carries a wide array of safe, all-natural and organic products whose manufacturers fully disclose their ingredients. You’ll find toxin-free, eco-friendly products for everyday living, ranging from organic mattresses and bedding to all-natural soy and beeswax candles.
I-GO Member offer: 10% off entire purchase

New business members

I-GO offers three great plans for business members: GO Business Basic, GO Business Economy, and GO Business Green. For more details on each plan’s advantages, fees, and rates, and how I-GO can save your business big bucks, contact Richard Kosmacher for a business application today.

We appreciate the support of our eight newest business members and encourage you to check them out for yourselves:

Around the Coyote 1815-25 W. Division St., (773) 342-6777
d & k architects 445 W. Erie, Ste. 102, (312) 573-2490
Home Instead Senior Care (866) 996-1087
ITN Chicago 1747 W. Roosevelt Rd., Ste. 110, (312) 413-0038
Preservation of Affordable Housing (617) 261-9898
Strategic Employee Benefits Services (part of The Northwestern Mutual Financial Network) (414) 271-1444
Trattoria 225 225 Harrison St., Oak Park, (708) 358-8555
Urban Archaeology Merchandise Mart, Ste. 108, (312) 527-4627

Member tips

I-PASS update

I-GO is now working with the Illinois Tollway Authority to install I-PASS transponders in the fleet. In the future, I-GO members will not need to use their personal I-PASS in I-GO vehicles.

Beginning in early July, we’ll initiate a pilot program with 15 cars to test and refine the interface between the I-PASS system and I-GO’s reservation and billing processes. You’ll be able to search for the cars in the amenities section of our online reservation site.

More details will follow in July when the program begins.

Be constructive: Pad your reservation

Warm weather (fingers crossed) has finally arrived in Chicago. And, like a rite of passage on our area roadways, so has a virtual labyrinth of construction projects. From the tollway to your neighborhood, those hard hats, detour signs, and bulldozers are out in force.

Accordingly, we’ve been fielding a lot of calls lately from members who’ve found themselves behind schedule. Nobody wants to pay a late fee because the next driver has been inconvenienced, and we’d rather not issue them. Our advice: Check ahead on construction updates and street closures on the Illinois Department of Transportation and City of Chicago websites and add a bit more time to your reservation if necessary.