Don't have car, will travel

I-GO (www.igocars.com)
City of origin The nonprofit I-GO program was started in Chicago in March 2002 by the Center for Neighborhood Technology, and is backed by the city. I-GO also has ties with Flexcar, the first for-profit car-sharing company in the nation, which is based in Portland, Oregon.

The vehicles I-GO’s 71 cars consist of low-emission Honda Civics, Civic Hybrids and Elements, and Toyota Priuses. It plans to have 100 vehicles by the end of the year to serve its 2,800 members.

Price $50 one-time member fee, $25 application fee and $25 annual fee. The basic plan includes use of the cars for $6 an hour, plus 50 cents a mile. Given the hourly fees, the I-GO program was not designed for members to borrow cars for long trips.

What’s included Gas, a permanent parking spot, insurance, maintenance, 24-hour assistance and a national network that allows access to Flexcars in seven other cities, including L.A. and Washington, D.C.

Locations 26 neighborhoods throughout the city, as well Evanston and Oak Park. The cars are parked in designated spots throughout the neighborhoods—the bigger ’hoods have more cars; for example, Lakeview has eight. Members in the program use a card to get into the car and a PIN code inside to access the key.

Reservations Feigon says members can reserve the cars as late as a minute in advance, and as early as a year in advance, using an online or phone reservation system. According to the I-GO website, most people use the cars two to four hours at a time, about three to four times a month.

Smoking? Pets? No smoking; pets are allowed, but only if they are locked in carriers.

Zipcar (www.zipcar.com)
City of origin This for-profit company started outside of Boston in 1999 and has since expanded to 12 other areas, including New York, San Francisco, Minneapolis and Toronto.

The vehicles Because the program is new, it has about 30 cars. The plan is to double the fleet by the end of the summer, with a goal of 100 cars by the end of the year. There will also be more than 20 models available, including the eco-friendly Prius, but also SUVs, MINI Coopers, Mustang convertibles and even BMWs. (Rates vary per type of car.)

Price $50 annual fee, plus a $25 application fee. The car rates start at $9 an hour and $66 a day. There are no mileage fees for driving less than 125 miles in a 24-hour period. Members who drive further are charged 30 cents a mile (40 cents for the premium cars).

What’s included Gas, parking, insurance, maintenance, XM Satellite Radio, 24-hour assistance and access to Zipcars in the aforementioned markets.

Locations Hyde Park, Lakeview, Lincoln Park, Old Town and River North, with plans to expand to 20 more neighborhoods, mostly along CTA lines.

Reservations Reservations can be made within minutes of when you need a car, or months in advance—either online or with an automated phone system (members are charged extra when making a reservation with an operator). Malloy suggests planning ahead for weekends. The cars can be used for as little as an hour, or up to three days at a time.

Smoking? Pets? No smoking; pets are allowed, but only if they are locked in carriers.