Dear Neighbor,
I wanted to provide an update on the status of the Car2Go pilot program in the 40th ward. We have received several complaints from constituents about the density of Car2Go vehicles parking on Foster Avenue and nearby streets.
Since Foster Avenue is the northern border of the pilot program, which is set to continue through June 2019, we reached out to Car2Go to see what options were available for elevating this density issue. Car2Go has been extremely helpful in addressing these concerns. Now that Car2Go is aware of the 40th Ward’s concerns related to the density along and around Foster Avenue, their team is monitoring the build-up along the border and will redistribute the vehicles where build-up is found. If you find that there is a particular area with a build-up of the Car2Go vehicles, please report it as soon as possible so Car2Go can monitor the concentration and remove the vehicle if it has been there longer than two days.
As the northern border for the program, I also asked Car2Go to look into whether the density-related issues are due to 40th Ward constituents or whether Foster Avenue is being used as a drop off point for residents who live outside the ward. While we want to be supportive of the pilot program as a whole, we also want to ensure that the byproduct of its success is due to the increased use and benefit of 40th Ward residents as opposed to those who live outside the ward. Based on data provided, it appears that the majority of those Car2Go vehicles along Foster Avenue are being rented and used by residents of the 40th Ward.
If you have questions or comments about the Car2Go program, you can contact the company directly at 877-488-4224. This would include complaints or concerns about cars staying in parking spaces on your block without moving for days on end. Their customer service agents are available 24/7. For those interested but unfamiliar with the program, you can visit the Car2Go website to learn more about the services and pricing. And, as always, you are welcome to reach out to my office for any comments or concerns at 773-769-1140 or ward40@cityofchicago.org.
Sincerely,
Ald. Pat O’Connor
