I-Go adds SUV's to car sharing program
ABC 7 Local News
December 3, 2004 – You may have heard about the I-GO car sharing program, which allows drivers who don't own a car to use one. Now I-Go has found that its customers need a little extra room and is adding SUV's.
The busy Lincoln Park neighborhood is the latest to add the I-GO car sharing program. The Honda Civic is parked under the "el" at Lincoln and Sheffield , making it easy for CTA commuters to use.
"There are a lot of young people in this neighborhood, a lot of whom either can't afford to own a car or choose not to own a car, so they still need a viable option to do anything from going to the doctor to going shopping to just running errands during the holidays," said IL. Rep. John Fritchey (D), 11th District.
There are now 18 I-GO locations in 12 neighborhoods. For a $75 membership you can reserve the car online or over the phone. I-GO covers the gas, insurance, maintenance and even parking! The member pays a fee of $6 an hour and 50-cents a mile.
While I-GO locations continue to grow, so does the fleet. A new type of vehicle, the Honda Element, has been added at the original location in Edgewater.
"We listened to our members, our members kept asking us for something bigger. They go to Ikea, they go to Target, they might be moving some furniture and the Civic is a great car, but it's obviously limited in what they can move," said Richard Kosmacher , I-GO marketing.
The element is also an environmentally friendly vehicle, a big concern in the I-GO program. Jeff Kelly Lowenstein has been an I-GO member since August. The program and the new vehicle have many pluses for him.
"I live in Evanston and work on the South Side and our family only has one car, so the idea of being able to have access to a car that's very close and we're able to use on a time specific basis is very appealing," said Jeff Kelly Lowenstein, I-GO member.
I-GO is hoping to add another Honda element to its next location in Printer's Row by the end of the year.
You can log onto www.igocars.org for details on how you can become an I-GO customer.
