I-GO Car Sharing serves the Chicago region with economical and environmentally sound transportation choices. Car sharing provides members with mobility when they need it, without the expense of owning a car. Our goals are to reduce car ownership, save families transportation costs, reduce urban congestion, improve local air quality, and curb greenhouse gas emissions. Launched in 2002 as a pilot project by Chicago’s innovative Center for Neighborhood Technology, I-GO is a non-profit corporation and brought car sharing to the Chicago region.
Who We Serve
I-GO serves all Chicagoland neighborhoods, and works with residents at all income levels, as well as local businesses, government agencies, universities, and real estate developments. Cars are dispersed in the neighborhoods and completely self-service. I-GO membership can help households save as much as $4,000 a year on typical transportation costs of $7,300.
I-GO Benefits
Car sharing can significantly reduce the environmental impacts of members’ mobility. Each I-GO car replaces 17 private cars as nearly half of our members sell or postpone purchase of cars when they join. Car sharing is the only program in North America shown to reduce car ownership at such a significant rate. All costs—including insurance and capital costs—are then charged by the hour and mile, instead of being fixed in annual contracts. As a result, car sharing participants have an incentive to walk, bike and take transit more; and they combine errands, carpool, and make shorter trips when they do drive. Members drive 85 percent less per year, on average, than typical Chicago car owners. This directly reduces congestion on the road as well as the pollution and greenhouse gasses emitted by cars. In 2006, I-GO Car Sharing helped to reduce driving by 13.7 million miles, air pollution by 27.5 metric tons, and greenhouse gas emissions by 4,800 metric tons.
Testimonial from a member:
"The savings are incredible. I love this program so much it is just the best thing for personal, environmental and economical purposes."
—Cara Martin Howard and family, members since March 2005
