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Good Read: Co-ops working together in Wolseley

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With the support of the Old Grace Housing Co-op, the City of Winnipeg, and an instrumental push from City Councillor Cindy Gilroy, we added an eight-passenger van to the Wolseley neighbourhood in June!

Here’s a snippet of the Winnipeg Free Press article, with quotes from City Councillor Cindy Gilroy:

“I was honoured to take part in the grand opening of the Old Grace Housing Co-op on June 14. Located on the site of the original Grace Hospital at Preston Avenue and Arlington Street, it provides affordable and multi-generational housing for our community.

Peg City and Old Grace applied together for a City of Winnipeg community incentive grant to purchase the vehicle. Working along with community I was able to champion this application and convince my colleagues on council to support this initiative. A grant of $17,000 was unanimously approved by city council on May 16.

I am happy that we are able to work together to improve an important service supporting families in the Wolseley area. Many residents don’t have a vehicle and either bike, use City transit, or car-share. The van will help provide transportation for larger families or those wanting to make a bigger purchase.”

Click here to read the full Winnipeg Free Press article.

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Good Read: Carshare co-op expands fleet with eight-passenger van

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Our fleet just keeps on growing. Read all about our latest expansion!

Thanks to the support of the Old Grace Housing Co-op, City Councillor Cindy Gilroy, the City of Winnipeg, and members and residents who penned letters of support, we have added an eight-passenger van to the Wolseley neighbourhood! Our operations manager, Philip, was recently interviewed by the Winnipeg Free Press about this exciting addition to the fleet.

Here’s a snippet from the Winnipeg Free Press article:

SASHA SEFTER / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS</p><p>Operations Manager of Peg City Car Co-op Philip Mikulec shows off the companies newest addition to the fleet, an eight-passenger van.</p>

SASHA SEFTER / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS
[ Operations Manager of Peg City Car Co-op Philip Mikulec shows off the companies newest addition to the fleet, an eight-passenger van. ]

Carshare members in Wolseley have access to an eight-passenger van, thanks to a little co-operation.

Peg City Car Co-op, the only carshare in Winnipeg, announced in a media release that the van will be stationed at the Old Grace Housing Co-op, which opened on June 14 at the site of the original Grace Hospital at Preston Avenue and Arlington Street. The van is the third vehicle placed at the housing co-op.

To get the money needed, Philip Mikulec, the car co-op’s operations manager, said in an interview Tuesday that they teamed up with the housing co-op to apply for the Community Incentives Grant Program. Mikulec added that area Counc. Cindy Gilroy played a significant role.

“Without her championing this, it wouldn’t have happened,” he said.

To read the full article, CLICK HERE.

CTV Winnipeg also did a great little spot with us, highlighting the new van. We already have trucks, vans, and a cargo van stationed in other neighbourhoods, but this is the first larger vehicle within walking distance for our Wolseley members.

We’re celebrating 8 years in business with a special birthday promotion: until July 31/19, sign up using the promo code BIRTHDAY75 and you’ll receive a $75 driving credit! If you’ve been thinking of joining Peg City Car Co-op, get in touch! We’d love to find the plan that works for you.

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Bonjour/Hello, St. Boniface!

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We’re excited to announce that due to increased demand we have added a second vehicle to the St. Boniface/Norwood Area!

This vehicle is parked at 112 Marion Street, right by the Norwood Hotel. To celebrate our growth, we are running a member referral promotion. Current members who refer a new account would receive $50 in driving credit. The individual you refer would also receive $50! When the new referred member registers, they should use promo code STBGROWS. When they pick up their fob from Peg City, all they have to do is drop your name like a celebrity and you’ll receive your referral bonus.

We know that our members in St. Boniface have been waiting patiently for this expansion – thank you, as always, for your continued support.

This offer expires 14/08/2019. Sign up today!

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Where to go: Experimental Lakes Area, Vermillion Bay, Ontario

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For many, carsharing is a way to run errands and get around the city when walking, biking and busing isn’t practical. This is our bread and butter, but carsharing can be also used to hit the road and explore! That’s why we’ve created a new feature called “Where To Go”, where staff and members explore Manitoba (and beyond).

This month, our Operations Manager, Philip, took some of his buddies on a six day canoe trip to the Experimental Lakes Area (ELA) near Vermillion Bay, Ontario.

“Northwest Ontario has some of the best paddling in the world, and the ELA doesn’t disappoint. The great thing about the circuit is that there are multiple routes for a variety of experience levels. The most common route takes you around in a quick loop with only one difficult portage (lovingly referred to as the Devil’s Staircase). We decided we were going to be more adventurous and extend our trip to explore more of the area.

Before heading out, we booked a canoe and trailer from Wilderness Supply. For those who don’t know about Wilderness Supply, they provide a full service shop that offers a variety of paddle rental equipment, including ultra-light canoes to make those difficult portages a little easier. You can learn more about what Wilderness Supply does here. Peg City Members who rent one of our vehicles can also take advantage of our partnership with Wilderness Supply, which gives members one free day for any multi-day rental!

One of the things I dislike the most about going on canoe trips with multiple people is the inefficiency of driving out in multiple vehicles. We rented one of the Peg City trucks (with a full crew cab and attached a trailer) and we were able to take one vehicle instead of two! All of the equipment, which were in water tight bags, easily fit in the truck bed.

Once we got packed up, we hit the road! Instead of driving half a day and then getting into canoes to paddle, we figured it would be a smart idea to decompress for one night, so we reserved a camping spot in Rushing River Provincial Park, which in and of itself is really beautiful. There was the added bonus of going in the offseason, which meant extra peace and quiet!

The next day we drove the extra half hour to our put-in location and got the real trip started! On our first couple of nights, we found some great island camping with nice fire pit and sitting areas. At one site, the previous campers even left behind some handy wire cooking grates with handles, which made cooking bannock on the fire nice and easy (no good canoe trip is complete without bannock). Speaking of food, canoe trips don’t have to consist of granola bars and trail mix. We made fresh, home-style cooked meals almost every night! After a long day of paddling and portaging, nothing is better than some hot food, a few sips of whisky, followed by a game of cards.

On our trip we also had the opportunity to check out some rapids and falls, and look for some foraging opportunities. We spent our last two nights camped on a beautiful crescent moon beach, which was a super nice break from all the rocks everywhere. The water wasn’t exactly warm, but we couldn’t resist a quick (and loud) dive into the water.

After a few days of relaxing, and peace and quiet, we finally had to head home. Before heading to Winnipeg, we stuck to our tradition and drove into Kenora for some beers and snacks at the brewery, which is never a bad idea after a few days in the bush!

It was a beautiful week with a mix of hot, sunny days,  a couple cooler, cloudy days, and the bugs weren’t too bad! It was great to have access to a truck and equipment from Wilderness Supply, which made planning the trip easier!”

If you are interested in sharing your carsharing adventures, let us know and we’d be happy to feature you on our next “Where To Go” post!

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Re:Member – Animal friends

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Re:Member is a series of helpful tips and reminders for Peg City Car Co-op members.

This month’s topic: Animal Friends Along for the Ride

We do allow pets in our Peg City cars, but since not all members are used to leaving the house covered in dog hair, we have a few rules around transporting pets.

car with Peg City Car Co-op logo, woman petting her dog

Pets must be in a carrier. If they’re too big to fit in a carrier, they must be transported in the cargo area of the vehicle (not the back seat) with a protective barrier in between them and the upholstery, like a tarp, blanket, or towel. We also encourage pet owners to bring a brush or a sticky lint roller with them to make sure that no hair is left behind.

Don’t leave a mess. If you’re hauling soil for your garden, bringing toys back from the beach, or coming home from the park with your tuckered-out puppy, the vehicle is going to need more than just a quick tidy.

When you know your pet is coming along for the ride, book extra time to thoroughly clean the interior of the vehicle.

We reimburse for cleaning! If you take the vehicle to be vacuumed or washed, fill out the log book (the same way you would for a fuel purchase), staple the receipt to it, and we will reimburse you with driving credit. Members can claim two cleanings per month, up to $25/clean, plus a bonus $10 credit as a ‘Thank You’!

If you have questions about transporting pets, or you’d like to send us a photo of your adorable animal friend just for fun, get in touch by email at [email protected], or by phone at 204-793-3912.

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Happy 8th Birthday, Peg City Car Co-op!

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Celebrating eight years of carsharing in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Thank You

Eight years in business. Over 1200 members. 35 vehicles, and more on the way.

We would like to thank all of our members, investors, board members, and our small-but-mighty staff who have helped us grow over the years!

With so much to celebrate this year, we want you to share it with us.

Between June 1 – July 31, sign up using the promo code BIRTHDAY75* and you’ll receive a $75 driving credit. Carsharing allows you the use of a car when you need one and eliminates the cost and hassle that come with ownership. It’s a practical alternative that helps you meet your transportation needs while benefiting the environment and your community. (*Offer expires July 31, 2019.)

Already a member? Refer a new driver using the promo code and you’ll both receive $75 in drive time.

Social media savvy? For the month of June, take a photo using a Peg City car and tag us on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter (@pegcitycarcoop) and use the hashtag #HappyBirthdayPegCityCarCoop to be entered to win $100 in driving credit! Photo/profile must be public to qualify. A winner will be chosen on July 1, 2019.

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Don’t Fear the Cargo Van

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A new driver’s experience taking the Nissan NV200 out on the road.

My name is RobYn, and I’m a new driver. You may know me as the Member Services Coordinator for Peg City Car Co-op. (Hello!) I grew up without a family car, got my beginner’s license at sixteen, and just never pursued the real deal. When I started working at Peg City, I had to learn how to drive, so … I did! Getting behind the wheel of different vehicles has been an exciting challenge for me, and I wanted to share my experience with driving our Nissan NV200 cargo van.

The cargo van is a spacious two-seater, with lots of room in the back for moving boxes, loading up bikes to take out of town, bringing plants and soil home from the garden centre; our members use the cargo van for all sorts of trips.

Here’s a scenario I encounter every so often: a member books the van, not realizing exactly what kind of vehicle it is. I can absolutely switch a member over to a smaller vehicle – BUT – after driving this van myself, with only one year of driving under my belt, I want to say, “Don’t fear the cargo van.”

The cargo van FEELS like you’re driving a regular car. It doesn’t feel that much wider, or longer, and it handles very smoothly. The biggest difference is not having a rear-view mirror, or side/back windows – instead, you have the larger mirrors on the sides, and a backup camera on the dash to give you a line of sight behind the van. With those giant mirrors, I found that I could see the entire lanes beside me while driving, which made changing lanes easy. It doesn’t rev or rumble the way you think a utility vehicle might. (No? Just me?)

I’m not embarrassed to say I was initially intimated by the cargo van, but now, I don’t fear it. Need the space, but fear the drive? My advice would be to do the classic first-time-driver’s move: book it out for an hour, find a nice, quiet street or parking lot, and try it. Once you get behind the wheel, you’ll see what I mean.

These photos are from an event we attended out at IKEA, meeting with folks to talk about different ways to live a more sustainable life, alongside recycling champions Mother Earth Recyling, our friends at Green Action Centre, the Manitoba Electric Vehicle Association, Fort Whyte Alive, and more. It was a lovely afternoon!

We connected with some great people at IKEA, and they have added a pair of VIP parking spots for Peg City Car Co-op drivers, right by the main entrance. Now, if only you had a vehicle with enough space in the back for all that flat-packed furniture … ; )

This is not a paid advertisement – just my own story of learning a new skill, and wanting to share it with others. Thanks for reading!

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Re:Member – Go the distance

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Re:Member is a series of helpful tips and reminders for current and future Peg City Car Co-op members.

This month’s topic: Multi-day bookings and long distance trips!

If you’re looking for a way to get out of the city for the afternoon, or maybe for a few days, we’ve the wheels to get you there!

Our Members benefit from free hours between midnight + 7AM, as well as a daily rate cap of 8 hours. That means you can make a booking for 8 hours or longer, and you only pay for 8. Members pay a maximum hourly rate of $39/day, and Member Plus drivers pay just $23/day!

Planning a longer drive? Our per kilometre rate drops from $0.36/km to $0.18 after the first 50 kilometres driven.

Members have the option of switching between the Member Plus plan and the basic Member plan, depending on their personal vehicle needs. For example, some members might drive more in the summer for trips to the cabin, or camping out of town, so jumping up to the Member+ plan for a few months makes sense for them. Try using our Trip Calculator to find the rate that fits your needs.

For those trips out of town, we’re pleased to offer vehicles with roof racks, free access to provincial parks with a 2019 Discovery Pass, discounts on bookings with Falcon Trails Resort and Wilderness Supply, and we often throw a flash seat sale into the mix, just to keep things fresh.

Looking to offset the cost of your trip? You can earn driving credits by tagging + posting photos of your outings! Join our Ambassador Program and earn up to $40 in driving credits each month.

What are you waiting for? Book your summer adventures today!

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Where to go: Brokenhead Wetland Interpretive Trail

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For many, carsharing is a way to run errands and get around the city when walking, biking and busing isn’t practical. This is our bread and butter, but carsharing can be also used to hit the road and explore! That’s why we’ve created a new feature called “Where To Go”, where staff and members explore Manitoba (and beyond).

One of our board members, and longtime carshare member, took a day trip out to the Brokenhead Wetland Interpretive Trail at the end of March. Here is the story of their adventure!

“Before heading out of town, we picked up the car and took it for a wash. Peg City will reimburse you with driving credit for the cost of the cleaning, and give you an extra $10 credit just for washing the car, which can add up to a few hours of free drive time. Since we were going to be using the car for the better part of a day, this worked out really well for us.

The Brokenhead trail is about an hour (80 kms) outside of Winnipeg. It opened in June 2016 and features a 2.6km journey on a wooden boardwalk through boreal forest and along the edge of a fen wetland. While the trail is only officially maintained mid April-October, it is still accessible in the winter.

We saw a balsam fir forest, squirrels, and deer prints. We also spotted evidence of native orchids and carnivorous plants, and American bittersweet flowers. The spring temperatures and sunshine made for a really lovely day.

Before we drove home, we stopped in Lockport at the famous Half Moon Drive-in for a hotdog, hamburger, and fries. We would highly recommend the trail in all seasons, and it should be opening mid-late April of this year. You can read more about this beautiful trail HERE.

Being members of a carshare means that we can still get out of the city from time to time without having to own a car. Thanks Peg City Car Co-op!”

If you are interested in sharing your carsharing adventures, let us know and we’d be happy to feature you on our next “Where To Go” post!

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Add Drivers to Your Member Account for $0!

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Why? Because we like you, that’s why.

One great perk of being a Member is that your account can have up to FIVE drivers. Each person receives their own fob, and the account can be set up in a couple of ways. You can all have access to the same bookings, which makes pick up, drop off, and running errands with another person a breeze. You can also set your account so that each driver can only see and access their own individual bookings, which is a good option for drivers living in separate households – such as siblings, partners or parents – and you don’t necessarily need or want to share your booking info with them.

Worried about your roommate or brother-in-law causing damage to a Peg City car? You can join our Damage Pool for just $40/year, and ALL drivers on the account are covered! Read more about insurance, and the rights and responsibilities of members and additional drivers HERE.

From now until May 31, 2019, add up to 2 new drivers to your account for $0!
We will waive their $25 registration fee + give them a $25 driving credit. 

Offer good for up to 2 new drivers. Maximum 5 drivers per Member account. Casual drivers are not eligible for additional drivers.
Email us at [email protected] with the subject line “Two Free Drivers”, and we’ll get you all set up.

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