I-GO: Chicago, IL
This one page profile on I-GO Car Sharing, Chicago's only nonprofit carsharing organization, focuses on the organization’s history, funding and partnerships. Carsharing is a smart extension of urban transportation systems for many reasons, including its ability to reduce vehicle emissions, urban congestion, parking demand and transportation costs; improve air quality; increase transportation options; and make urban communities more sustainable overall. Carsharing encourages and supports walkable communities and transit. It shares the cost of car ownership and maintenance across many users. Carshare vehicles are typically energy efficient, keeping CO2 emissions to a minimum.
The effort required by the city depends on which approach the city takes. A city can create and manage the carsharing organization itself — which is uncommon — or it can aid an outside organization or group of people in the creation of a carsharing organization. The City of Chicago took the latter approach during the creation of I-GO Car Sharing. The city, understanding that carsharing could fill a crucial niche in the city's transportation network, provided I-GO's initial funding. The city can also provide assistance by setting aside reserved parking spaces for carsharing vehicles.
