Occasional Car Sells to Enterprise

Today it was announced that Occasional Car was bought by Enterprise Holdings. This leaves eGo CarShare as the sole local carshare provider in the Denver – Boulder metro area. It has been exciting to see the continued growth of carsharing as a segment of our transportation system in the Denver region and eGo CarShare is proud to be the first in the region to offer this service.

eGo began over 13 years ago, in Boulder, as a grassroots effort to reduce our carbon footprint, while offering an alternative to personal car ownership. With the assumption that if you have a car parked in your driveway, you will drive it, eGo CarShare pioneered carsharing in Colorado as a means to provide access to transportation while encouraging walking, biking or transit first.

In 2009, eGo accelerated its growth by launching in Denver around the same time  as Occasional Car. eGo CarShare and Occasional Car were the sole carshare providers in Denver until 2012 when Enterprise CarShare (previously branded as WeCar) came to the University of Denver campus. During the summer of 2013 other international short-term car rental companies including Zipcar (Avis), car2go and Hertz 24/7 (formerly Hertz On Demand), all came to the Denver market when Denver Public Works approved an on-street parking permit program.

As our transportation system expands and options diversify, eGo CarShare will continue to fulfill our mission to provide and promote alternatives to personal car ownership, thereby reducing the environmental and social impacts associated with motor vehicle use. We are committed to remaining an independent local organization and to providing the lowest carsharing rates possible.

eGo CarShare is the only carshare provider in the Denver-Boulder metro area that has agreed to follow the CarSharing Association’s Code of Ethics. The CarSharing Association works to maximize the environmental and social impact of the carsharing industry. Member-organizations are committed to providing sustainable, transit-oriented urban mobility for the benefit of the communities that they serve.

eGo CarShare is also a proud member of the Mile High Business Alliance. We recognize and appreciate the interest many Denver residents have in supporting our local economy and businesses.

Thank you for sharing with us!

– eGo CarShare

eGo CarShare Expands In Boulder

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

EGO CARSHARE EXPANDS IN BOULDER

Non-profit carsharing program adds new locations in Boulder 

March 19th, 2014 (BOULDER, CO) – eGo CarShare, the Boulder based nonprofit carsharing service, recently added three new vehicles to its Boulder fleet at 23rd and Walnut, Sterling University Peaks Apartments (30th and Aurora), and 48th and Arapahoe across from Boulder Community Hospital.

eGo CarShare currently has 29 vehicles available throughout Boulder and 18 in Denver via its unique 24/7, pay-as-you-drive system. They plan to add at least five more locations in Boulder before the end of the year. eGo CarShare is committed to providing an affordable transportation option to all Boulder residents while reducing the environmental and social impacts of personal vehicle ownership and helping the City achieve its climate commitment goals. Research has shown that after joining a roundtrip carshare service like eGo, members walk 40% more, ride public transit 34% more, bike 18% more, and reduce their Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) by over 40%. Studies also show that every roundtrip carsharing vehicle on the road displaces 9 to 30 personal vehicles, encouraging members to either sell their car or avoid purchasing a new vehicle.

eGo CarShare’s current expansion is fueled by a Congestion Mitigation Air Quality (CMAQ) grant from the Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG) to expand to new locations near existing or planned B-cycle stations.  Bikesharing and carsharing systems are two innovative solutions that go hand-in-hand to address our personal transportation needs while reducing the number of vehicles on the road and promoting active transportation modes.Go, members walk 40% more, ride public transit 34% more, bike 18% more, and reduce their Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) by over 40%. Studies also show that every roundtrip carsharing vehicle on the road displaces 9 to 30 personal vehicles, encouraging members to either sell their car or avoid purchasing a new vehicle.

“We are thrilled to be able to expand our network of vehicles in Boulder. We already serve over 2,000 Boulder residents and take pride in helping our members go car free or downsize to one car per household. Placing our vehicles near existing transportation infrastructure, like B-cycle and key transit corridors, is a natural fit that helps improve the synergy, convenience and utility of all active modes,” said eGo CarShare’s Director, Karen Worminghaus.

Anyone interested in becoming a member can visit carshare.org to learn more. If you have a car you would like to share in the program visit carshare.org/2016dev/share-your-car to discover how you can share your car and stop paying for gas, maintenance, and insurance.

About eGo CarShare:

eGo CarShare is a local Boulder-Denver 501(c)(3) organization which started in Boulder in 2001. eGo’s mission is to provide and promote alternatives to individual car ownership, thereby reducing the environmental and social impacts associated with motor vehicle use.  CarSharing is an alternative to personal car ownership that provides members hourly use of vehicles – without worrying about the cost of insurance, maintenance or even gas.

CONTACT:

Karen Worminghaus, Director, eGo CarShare, [email protected], ph 303.720.1185 x5

New Denver Location – 8th & Grant!

Thanks to another “loanation” we have a new location in Denver on 8th and Grant. Our new friend Katie added her Mazda 3 to our fleet. Thanks Katie! You can find it in the parking lot of Sleek Apartments at 770 Grant Street. This is our first loanation in Denver, and hope it won’t be our last. If you are interested in sharing your car with us, please read through the criteria and complete the form on our website.

Look for a testimonial from Katie in the coming weeks where she explains why she decided to share her car with eGo.

Please let us know what you think about this new location on our facebook, twitter, or through member feedback.

eGo Vehicle #222

Winter Weather Reservations!

As the temperatures fall and snow flakes swirl, we’re reminded that winter is once again upon us! During these snowy times, be sure to use extra caution on the roadways to keep everyone safe from harm and our vehicles in good condition.

Please keep the following in mind for all your winter reservations:

  • There are no penalties for canceling your reservation (or returning early) due to severe inclement weather if you notify eGo at the time of the cancellation.
  • If there is a large snowfall or severe weather, eGo staff may enact a ‘Snow Day,’ which means that staff will contact members with scheduled reservations and remind them of our weather-related cancellation policy, and/or disallow members to continue with their reservations if we deem the road conditions too hazardous.
  • Before starting your trip, brush all snow off the roof of your vehicle, particularly the Priuses. Snow left on the roof can suddenly slide forward onto the windshield, completely blocking your view and creating a very dangerous situation.
  • Please use the blankets in the cars when transporting bikes and other dirty items. Help keep our vehicles clean by notifying us when they get particularly dirty inside or out. And thanks for understanding, as it’s harder for us to keep the fleet as clean during the winter months!
Look for snow tires on these vehicles:

Boulder Cars: V #104 – Wells Fargo (AWD)*, V #108 – Maxwell & Broadway, V #118 – Gold Run (AWD)*, V #126 – Newton Court minivan

Denver Cars: V #202 – 17th St. Plaza, V #212 – 15th & Curtis (AWD)*, V #221 – 14th & High (AWD)*

*These AWD excursion vehicles also have ski racks on them!

Toyota Matrix

Namastè Solar Sponsors eGo CarShare

We would like to send a BIG thank you to Namasté Solar for their generous support of our program. Look for our red Prius at Table Mesa and Broadway, now happily sporting the Namasté logo!

Namasté Solar, a Sunpower Elite Dealer, is proud to sponsor the eGo CarShare program in our community. Namasté Solar offers solar PV solutions for residential and commercial customers. Flexible financing options are available, including no money down and 12 months no payments, no interest.

Namasté Solar’s unique, values-based business model includes employee ownership, democratic decision-making, community collaboration, open communication, an innovative solar grant program, zero-waste initiatives, and holistic profit measurement. The company maintains high ethical standards among employees, customers, and the community. Committed to positive social change, Namasté Solar prioritizes “doing the right thing” above all else for all stakeholders. To set up a free consultation, contact (303) 447-0300 or Namastesolar.com.

Namasté Solar

 

 

 

 

 

 

Please contact [email protected] if your business or employer is interested in becoming our next featured sponsor! We still have a few matching opportunites left for our current CMAQ grant.

Sponsor: Downtown Boulder Inc!

eGo CarShare would like to thank Downtown Boulder Incorporated (DBI) for their generous support of our program. We currently have a federal grant which is allowing us to create “Shared Mobility Hubs” by placing additional carshare locations in close proximity to B-cycle stations. This grant requires us to raise $5K in matching funds for every new car we add to our fleet. DBI’s contribution will allow us to help meet the growing demand for our program!

In exchange for their generous support, all DBI members are eligible for a free eGo business membership. You can see DBI’s branding as it rolls around town on our newly loanated Subaru Outback in the Wells Fargo lot (V#104)!

About: Downtown Boulder, Incorporated (DBI) is a non-profit organization dedicated to the continued preservation and enhancement of Downtown Boulder as the heart of the greater Boulder community. DBI works to maintain downtown as the center of commerce, government, culture, and leisure. DBI members support the overall vitality of downtown through public advocacy, political involvement, and community events that enhance the Boulder experience for residents and visitors. Membership in DBI is voluntary, and open to any interested person or organization. Learn more about DBI and/or become a member at, www.boulderdowntown.com.

New Denver Location – 14th & High!

Thanks to a new partnership with First Divine Science Church of Denver, we have a new parking space just north of Cheesman Park! This location is a great “buddy” car to our Capitol Hill and City Park locations, for members who have had to hike a little farther to get to a vehicle. You will find V #221 in the parking lot just north of the church (14th St.) on High Street, in the signed parking space right next to the sidewalk.

We are excited to give this new location a try. Please let us know what you think of it on Facebook or twitter!

14th and High 14th and High V#221

Colorado Gives Day!

Please Donate to eGo on Colorado Gives Day – Today, December 10th!

2013-co-gives-day-slide

Today, December 10th, is Colorado Gives Day! Please consider donating to your favorite local, nonprofit, transit-oriented carshare organization, eGo CarShare! Each dollar we raise today will help eGo with our new Multi-Mobility project. Starting in January 2014, eGo will be creating transit, bike and carshare packages in various affordable housing neighborhoods. These programs will be subsidized by grant funding we have received through the Denver Regional Council of Governments. Our grant requires a 17% match, so we could really use your donations to make this program a success. 100% of your donation today will go straight to us.

Please give today, Tuesday, December 10th! Together we can make a difference in our community!

Rudi’s Organic Bakery – New eGo Sponsor!

Rudi’s Organic Bakery Sponsors eGo

rudis-logo 2We are excited to announce another new community partner and sponsor this month. Rudi’s Organic Bakery is now the proud sponsor of our Prius at Lucky’s Market in Boulder! We are grateful to Rudi’s for their support of our program, and we also think they make the best bread in town!

Rudi’s has been passionate about baking better breads for families for more than 35 years. Founded and headquartered in Boulder, CO, Rudi’s Organic Bakery is the only nationally available brand offering a full line of nutritious and delicious certified organic breads and baked goods that use only the best organic ingredients and no artificial additives, preservatives, or GMOs. Rudi’s Organic and Rudi’s Gluten-Free products are available nationally at natural foods stores and select mainstream supermarkets. For more information, visit rudisbakery.com.

Please contact [email protected] if your business or employer is interested in becoming our next featured sponsor!

New vehicles & Locations!

McTruckin’

photo 1 2Hooray, the Cavalry (or at least that’s what we’re calling our new Ford F150) has arrived! The green truck at McGuckin’s has faithfully done duty hauling loads of mulch and garden supplies and helping lots of people move throughout the past four years. But our Green Machine is ready for retirement. The new F150 has a deeper 6.6 ft bed and plenty of engine to meet your hauling needs. So if you or your friends need to move this season, ride your handy red bike over to the B-cycle station at The Village shopping center and make quick work of your move. With seating capacity for 5, you can bring lots of helpers with you!

Focus on the Paramita Campus

photo 1
Last month we bought a Chevy Sonic, this month we bought a Ford Focus. Our new Ford Focus is going to live at lot #106 – the Naropa Paramita Campus. You won’t be able to miss the new hatchback driving around town, the color is “race red.” Just don’t take it to the drag track!

We can’t quite decide which new vehicle we like better. Do you have a preference? If so, let us know by taking our vehicle survey, shooting us an email at [email protected], or posting to ourFacebook.

 

Fraiser Meadows – Foothills & Baseline

We have an exciting new partnership and parking location at Frasier Meadows near Foothills and Baseline in Boulder. We are delighted to bring shared mobility to the residents of Frasier Meadows and the surrounding neighborhood. When we heard about the tremendous flooding Frasier Meadows endured in September, we wanted to help out as best we could. So we moved a car to their campus to help meet the mobility needs of residents who had lost their vehicles in the flood. For the month of November, the hourly and daily rates for this new location will be discounted. In January we will evaluate if the location is viable. You can find the car listed as Vehicle #128 in our reservation system. If you live nearby, please try out the location. The more reservations there are, the more likely we are to keep a vehicle there long-term!