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Posts Tagged ‘cars’

German suburb finds car-free life quite carefree

Wednesday, May 13th, 2009

Have you ever heard of Vauban, a small suburb in Germany? I hadn’t until recently, but after reading an article in yesterday’s New York Times—“In German Suburb, Life Goes On Without Cars”—I’m ready to pack my bags and hop on the next plane there.

Vauban, completed in 2006, sits on the outskirts of Freiburg, near the French and Swiss borders. Street parking, driveways and home garages are generally forbidden, and Vauban’s streets are completely car-free, except for the main thoroughfare and a few streets on the outskirts of the suburb.

You may be asking yourself, How is this working out for the 5,500 residents of Vauban? Quite well, it seems. From the article:

The town is long and relatively narrow, so that the tram into Freiburg is an easy walk from every home. Stores, restaurants, banks and schools are more interspersed among homes than they are in a typical suburb. Most residents…have carts that they haul behind bicycles for shopping trips or children’s play dates. For trips to stores like IKEA or the ski slopes, families buy cars together or use communal cars rented out by Vauban’s car-sharing club.

Moreover, parents in Vauban rave about the safety that goes along with having no cars on the streets. Children can run free without their parents fearing for their safety as they would if their kids were playing on a busy street corner. Check out this interesting slideshow of Vauban.

Vauban is part of a growing suburban trend many are referring to as “smart planning.” In the U.S., the EPA is beginning to promote “car reduced” communities and experts expect public transport serving suburbs to play a much larger role in a new six-year federal transportation bill to be approved this year. Currently, most zoning laws in the U.S. still require two parking spaces per residential unit. Hopefully, Vauban’s success will lead to many more car-reduced cities and suburbs.

Tags: autos, biking, carbon footprint, cars, clean air, eco-news, green living, green transportation, neat stuff
Posted in Motormouth | 2 Comments »

Sharing vs. Owning: The effects of car sharing

Monday, May 4th, 2009

Ian Sacs, of Planetizen, recently reported on the effects of car sharing versus car ownership, and what do you know: the outcomes all seem to have positive ramifications! According to Sacs, “Surveys of members, data from existing programs, and empirical evidence from several developments have shown that when a car share vehicle is available in a convenient location, and usually combined with transit access, a significant number of people make a decision that it is no longer necessary to own a car.” He goes on to conclude that the ratio of car sharing vehicles to households that voluntarily give up a personal car is roughly six to 23. However, Sacs is quick to note that as car sharing becomes more widespread, this ratio could double.

Moreover, adding car sharing vehicles to a development can significantly reduce demand for parking and, in turn, reduce construction costs. Although, Sacs also points out that simply “sprinkling car share vehicles nearby or even on-site is typically not enough to realize an appreciable reduction in private vehicle ownership. Rather, the developer must market car sharing as a feature” and include incentives to join—such as reduced membership costs, driving credits and so forth.

One of the less studied, yet equally important, effects of car sharing versus car ownership is the effect it has on the total number of trips a person takes each year. If you own your own car, the more you drive it, the more value you get out of it. Whereas when sharing a car, and paying per use, you are more likely to consider the true cost of taking a car versus public transportation, biking or walking.

While Sacs does not ignore the fact that car sharing is currently only found in, and seems to be most applicable in, urban areas, he does appear hopeful for expansion of the industry into suburban areas as well. To illustrate this point, he highlights the number of suburban families that own a second or third car that they rarely use and insists that adding a car sharing vehicle in these suburban areas may “significantly reduce the total number of vehicles needed in that community.”

Has the availability of car sharing in Chicago convinced you to ditch your wheels? To drive less? Let us know your car sharing experience!

Tags: auto expenses, car sharing, carbon footprint, cars, green transportation
Posted in Motormouth | No Comments »

Emissions Accomplished?

Wednesday, March 11th, 2009

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is currently considering reversing a Bush administration decision which prevented California (along with 13 other states) from enacting stricter air-pollution standards for motor vehicles. This is great news, not only because of the positive environmental effects the stricter rules would bring about, but simply because it might actually happen!

California has been leading the fight to enact these stricter CO2 regulations for years now and has seen little help from the federal government. However, that was under the Bush administration. Things seem to be changing since Obama took office.

On January 21, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger sent a letter to President Obama requesting that he review the EPA’s denial of California’s waiver request, stating, “California and a growing number of farsighted states have sought to enforce a common-sense policy to reduce global-warming pollution from passenger vehicles, which are the source of 20 percent of our nation’s greenhouse gas emissions. Regulation will not only reduce these emissions, but will also save drivers money and reduce our nation’s dependence on foriegn oil… Your administration has a unique opportunity to both support the pioneering leadership of these states and move America toward global leadership on addressing climate change.”

A mere five days after Governor Schwarzenegger sent this letter, President Obama directed federal regulators to review California’s and 13 other states’ request to set automobile emissions and fuel efficency standards. According to the Clean Air Act Section 209 – State Standards, the EPA must grant the waiver unless it finds that California:

-was arbitrary & capricious in its finding that its standards are, in the aggregate, at least as protective of public health and welfare as applicable federal standards;

-does not need such standards to meet compelling and extraordinary conditions; or

-has proposed standards not consistent with Section 202(a) of the Clean Air Act

The 13 other states joining California in this fight are: Arizona, Connecticut, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington.

Help make this happen – sign the petition urging the EPA to grant the waiver!

Tags: advocacy, automakers, Barack Obama, carbon footprint, cars, clean air, clean fuel, eco-news, emission standards, green cars, sustainable transportation
Posted in Motormouth | No Comments »

One BILLION cars

Friday, January 16th, 2009

That’s the world population of cars now, and it could double in the next 20 years. This is according to Daniel Sperling, author of the book Two Billion Cars: Driving Toward Sustainability. Sperling was interviewed yesterday on one of my favorite radio shows, Fresh Air.

It’s a really interesting conversation about the history of technology advancements and market forces that have influenced the makeup of the car population now, and how we might slow its growth and make electric, hybrid, and hydrogren vehicles take up a larger share in the future.

Car sharing gets a lot of love, of course, but some of his other answers are surprising. He points out the shortcoming of mass transit and promotes bike sharing, paratransit, and other ways to change what he terms “the transportation monoculture.”

You should take a listen, even if you’re not a policy wonk – these Big Picture questions address important facets of all our lives.

(AP photo via anthonares.net)

Tags: cars, eco-news, links
Posted in Motormouth | No Comments »

2010 Toyota Prius unveiled in Detroit

Tuesday, January 13th, 2009

The auto blog Jalopnik has a ton of coverage from The Detroit Auto Show, where there have been a lot of hybrid cars introduced, including the 2010 Toyota Prius. At 50 MPG, the new Prius will be the most fuel-efficient vehicle available in the country. You can bet I-GO will be looking at the new Prius and other hybrids like the Honda Insight and Ford Fusion Hybrid to add to the already green fleet.

For photos (like this one) and news about new hybrid tech at the big auto show, check out Jalopnik’s full coverage.

Tags: cars, eco-news
Posted in Motormouth | No Comments »

Chicago expands red light ticketing program

Tuesday, January 6th, 2009

As some of you may already be painfully aware, traffic surveillance cameras have been popping up around Chicago at intersections in recent years. Getting caught running a red light on one of these cameras will cost you a hefty $100 ticket in the mail. Already, the City has installed 248 cameras at 123 accident-prone intersections and it looks like there are many more to come.

The 7th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals has given the City of Chicago the go-ahead to continue installing red light camera at intersections throughout Chicago. Rejecting the so-called “innocent owner’s defense”, the ruling states:

“Is it rational to fine the owner, rather than the driver? Certainly so. A camera can show reliably which cars and trucks go through red lights, but is less likely to show who was driving. That would make it easy for owners to point the finger at friends or children- and essentially impossible for the city to prove otherwise”

The City will now move ahead with a major expansion program, installing cameras at more than 330 intersections by 2012. Thus far, these cameras have raised $94.5 million in revenue for the city. However, City Hall insists that it’s more about safety than money, claiming a 59 percent drop in red-light running since installing the cameras in 2003. What do you think? Is this a fare form of traffic enforcement, or is Big Brother going too far?

Tags: cars, chicago news, tips, transportation
Posted in Motormouth | 3 Comments »

Will Obama help grow an electric car bumper crop in Hawaii?

Friday, December 5th, 2008

Will Barack Obama’s childhood island state become the first in the nation to fully support a transition to electric vehicles? The President-Elect has made it clear he plans to make sustainability and green-collar jobs top priorities during his administration. Now, Hawaii is attempting to lead the country in adopting use of all-electric vehicles. It’s a refreshing change of pace from the greed and lack of vision we’ve been witnessing on Capitol Hill as the Big Three automakers beg for a bail-out.

This past Tuesday, Hawaii announced plans to become the first state in the U.S. to create a statewide electric recharging network for electric cars. The Hawaiian state government has joined forces with Better Place, an ambitious start-up that I posted about earlier this year, in an effort to make all-electric vehicles a reality by building car charging and battery swapping stations around the islands and purchasing renewable energy from Hawaiian Electric Co., the state’s largest utility.

They plan to have the recharging stations up and running by 2011, and to have built 50,000 to 100,000 charging spots across the state by early 2012. Shai Agassi, Better Place’s founder and CEO, claims the electric cars will cost the same as gas powered cars — at first. However, over time, electric cars will be less expensive to make because they use far less parts than cars with internal combustion engines.

In late November, San Francisco and the surrounding Bay Area cities also announced plans to join forces with Better Place to create an electric recharging network by 2012. However, Better Place chose Hawaii as the first statewide rollout for several reasons: the size of the state, the contained environment and consistent climate the island offers, and the abundance of renewable energy resources, such as wind, solar, geothermal and wave power.

Here are two short clips: one of Agassi and Hawaiian Governor Linda Lingle driving one of the Better Place electric vehicles (hopefully, we’ll be seeing more of these cars in the near future), and one of Agassi answering a reporter’s questions about Better Place’s agenda for the Bay Area.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LH-FyvwsrEg&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&feature=player_embedded&fs=1]

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cGD9aRC4Y5M&hl=en&fs=1]

Tags: cars, eco-news, gas prices, green living, green site, living simply, neat stuff, transportation
Posted in Motormouth | No Comments »

Snow days were more fun Back In The Day…

Monday, December 1st, 2008

It’s the first big snow of the year, and as I hear Chicago school closings listed, I am again bummed as heck that I won’t ever experience the joy of a snow day. Heart pumping as the list is read, the ecstasy as your school is called, the video games and PJs all day while you skip your homework again…

But now we grown ups have to soldier on in this weather, getting wet and cold waiting for the El, scrubbing salt stains from our shoes, wiping out on the ice, and also braving dangerous roads. For folks not used to driving in this mess, be sure to follow some of these important tips as you do your grown-up business in your favorite I-Go car:

Turn on your head lights so other cars can see you.
Stay a bit further behind the cars in front of you – when there is snow and ice, you’ll need about three times the amount of space to break.
If you get stuck, clear snow from the tires and ease your way out. Spinning your wheels will just get you more stuck.

More tips on Winter driving are at weather.com. Stay warm and safe.

(Image from WBBM CBS 2 Chicago)

Tags: cars, tips
Posted in Motormouth | No Comments »

Help Bring Clean Cars to Illinois

Thursday, October 16th, 2008

The Illinois Clean Cars Act is an important piece of legislation that will soon be voted on in Springfield. The act would require new cars sold in Illinois to have higher fuel efficiency standards, thus improving air quality and public health, while also reducing global warming pollution. This is Illinois’ opportunity to lead the Midwest in adopting standards that will require auto manufacturers to build cleaner cars. How will this benefit Illinois residents? Check out this interview with Joe Shacter, senior policy advocate at the Environmental Law & Policy Center.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQOV6tHU8Lc&hl=en&fs=1]

To learn more about or take action on this bill, visit the Environmental Law & Policy Center’s website.

Tags: cars, eco-news, gas prices, green living
Posted in Motormouth | No Comments »

Power to the People, Right On

Tuesday, September 23rd, 2008

This past weekend I finally got around to reading an article in WIRED’s September issue that a colleague had recommended. It was weighty subject matter for a Sunday, but I’m glad I did. The piece, headlined “Driven”, outlines visionary entrepreneur Shai Agassi’s audacious agenda to put electric cars on the road. It lays out a bold, yet totally believable, plan to transform personal transportation and help achieve global energy independence in our lifetime.

Agassi, a prominent Israeli-born software programmer who switched gears a few years ago to devote his energy toward solving the transportation emissions problem, is turning complex theory into exciting and optimistic reality. Agassi’s environmental engine was sparked in 2005 at a Young Global Leaders conference in Switzerland. Just three years later, he’s already got a country, millions of venture-capital dollars, and automakers on his assembly line.

Early on, the electric car became the focal point of Agassi’s plan. While the idea of electric vehicles is far from new, “Agassi reimagined the entire automotive ecosystem by proposing a new concept he called the Electric Recharge Grid Operator,” writes reporter Daniel Roth. “It was an unorthodox mashup of the automotive and mobile phone industries. Instead of gas stations on every corner, the ERGO would blanket a country with a network of ‘smart’ charge spots. Drivers could plug in anywhere, anytime, and would subscribe to a specific plan—unlimited miles, a maximum number of miles each month, or pay as you go—all for less than the equivalent cost for gas. They’d buy their car from the operator, who would offer steep discounts, perhaps even give the cars away. The profit would come from selling electricity”.

In May 2007, Agassi launched Project Better Place, the world’s first global electric-car grid operation. Since then, Agassi has been spreading his vision of Better Place on an international scale. In January 2008, Israel became the first nation in the world to declare a plan for oil independence by 2020. Partnering with Better Place and Renault-Nissan, Israel has committed to widespread deployment of an electric recharge grid to power electric vehicles by 2011. The renewable energy needed for such an operation will be supplied through Israel’s growing solar power sector.

Denmark also jumped on board, in March 2008, when DONG (Danish Oil & Natural Gas) energy company partnered with Better Place and Renault-Nissan to power electric vehicles with energy generated from wind turbines. Renault-Nissan is already developing the first line of battery-powered electric cars for Better Place.

Through Better Place, Agassi is ushering in a new chapter in sustainable, personal transportation. Better place your bets now.

Tags: cars, eco-news, gas prices, green living, green site, neat stuff
Posted in Motormouth | No Comments »

Car Sharing Grows in Vermont

Thursday, August 21st, 2008

Car sharing continues to spread through the country and is about to take hold in Vermont. CarShare Vermont recently launched their new website and will begin operations this September.

Similar to I-GO Car Sharing, CarShare Vermont will be a locally-run, non-for-profit car sharing organization (CSO). They plan to launch next month with 6 Burlington pod locations (see below map).

[googlemaps http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=111933241009612582250.0004533eb00068e5f2689&ll=44.4759,-73.21323&spn=0.021435,0.036478&output=embed&s=AARTsJrKRgvugQa09yY2D9SSNr8EAB2Q_g&w=425&h=350]

Tags: cars, eco-news, green living, green site
Posted in Motormouth | No Comments »

Car Sharing Continues to Spread

Thursday, June 26th, 2008

As you may already know, I-GO is partners with many of the independent car sharing organizations in the United States and Canada. This means that, as an I-GO member, you can sign up for a complimentary membership with any of our partnering organizations and share their cars while you’re there. Click here to see the full list of I-GO’s car sharing partners.

Just this week, a new car sharing organization was launched in Ithaca, New York. Click here to read more about Ithaca Carshare.

If you have taken advantage of our complimentary memberships with other car sharing organizations- or plan to- please post your experiences below.

Tags: cars, eco-news, green living, links, living simply
Posted in Motormouth | No Comments »

I-GO Car Sharing is Growing

Tuesday, June 3rd, 2008

I-GO Car Sharing has 6 new cars rolling your way this weekend! All of the new cars are brand spankin’ new Priuses and will be in service by this weekend.

-Edgewater: 6214 N Winthrop (3rd car at this location)
5555 N Sheridan (1st car)

-Rogers Park: 1624 W Morse (3rd car)

-Lincoln Square: 4877 N Lincoln (2nd car)

-Lakeview: 2800 N Lake Shore Dr (1st of 2 cars)

-Uptown: 4753 N Broadway (3rd car)

Are these new locations good for you? Let us know where you need more cars!

Tags: cars, i-go news
Posted in Motormouth | 5 Comments »

Expanding Car Sharing in Chicago

Thursday, May 15th, 2008

We’re adding new cars to 2 new locations this week at I-GO Car Sharing! The 2 new I-GO cars will be put into the Lakeview/Uptown and Lincoln Park neighborhoods.

-Lakeview/Uptown Car Sharing: 655 W. Irving Park (2008 blue Honda Civic). New car, new location.
[googlemaps http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=420+W+Fullerton&sll=41.959554,-87.647038&sspn=0.01235,0.029182&ie=UTF8&ll=41.935232,-87.635708&spn=0.012356,0.029182&z=14&iwloc=addr&output=embed&s=AARTsJpjOsAXoDxvdOzJRY6TpsWw1UVQPg&w=425&h=350]

Are these new locations convenient for you? If not, where else should we be adding cars and expanding the reach of car sharing in Chicago? Post below and let us know!

Tags: cars, i-go news
Posted in Motormouth | 5 Comments »

Beep, Beep! We’ve got 10 new cars rolling your way…

Wednesday, May 7th, 2008

We will be adding 10 new cars before the end of May. The locations (some new, some old) are as follows:

-3053 W Montrose (New Location; adding 2 cars)

-655 W Irving Park (New Location; 2 cars)

-420 W Fullerton (New Location; 1 car)

-2036 N Clark (1 car)

-821 Davis (1 car)

-2021 W Chicago (1 car)

-1355 N Dearborn (1 car)

The 10^th car will either be added to our 17 W Hubbard location or our 1120 N LaSalle location. Do you have a preference on which of those two locations we chose? If not, what do you think of our other locations? Post your comments!

Stay tuned to Motormouth for the exact dates these new cars will be going in…

Tags: cars, i-go news
Posted in Motormouth | 4 Comments »

New Month, New Cars

Wednesday, April 30th, 2008

I can’t believe it’s already May! I feel like New Years Eve was just last month- apparently, I shouldn’t trust my sense of time…

This month we will be adding 10 new cars- 6 of which will go into service by May 22nd; the other 4 by the end of May.

Last week we added one new car at a new location:
-Hyde Park: 5541 S Everett (Red Toyota Prius)

By the end of this week, we’ll also have added one new car to another new location:
-Hyde Park: 5210 S. Woodlawn (Silver Toyota Prius)

And one new car to an old location:
-Lakeview: 1232 W Belmont (Blue Toyota Prius; this new car is replacing an older car that was moved to 60 E Lake St)

Check back soon for more new cars and new locations! And don’t forget to post below and voice your opinion on where we need more cars and what kind of cars you prefer to drive.

Tags: cars, i-go news
Posted in Motormouth | 3 Comments »

And the winner is….

Wednesday, January 30th, 2008

The results are in on I-GO’s 2008 Member Survey. A big “thank you” (and some good karma) goes out to all of you who took the time to answer our questions! You’ll be happy to know that we’re taking in all of your suggestions, comments, complaints and pats-on-the-backs and adjusting I-GO’s practices accordingly.

Now to the interesting stuff! We asked members what their three favorite car models are, within the current I-GO fleet. The results scream HYBRIDS! The top three car models chosen were (in order of preference): the Honda Civic Hybrid, the Toyota Prius and the Honda Civic. Rounding up the other end of the spectrum, the Toyota Scion XB came in dead last- by a long shot.

So just what is it about these cars that you like? And why all the hatred for the sweet little Scion XB? We need details! Should I-GO have only hybrids? Should we buy more American-made cars? Post your thoughts below and let us know!

Tags: cars, feedback
Posted in Motormouth | 10 Comments »

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