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    1. Bus

    MI: Thousands try Alternatives Commutes in Annual Commuter Challenge

    June 9, 2014
    More than 1,600 employees from over 200 organizations logged an alternative commute during the 2014 Commuter Challenge, and the majority found that the challenge increased their use of alternative commuting during the entire month of May.
    Related To: Ann Arbor Area Transportation Authority (TheRide) (AAATA)

    More than 1,600 employees from over 200 organizations logged an alternative commute during the 2014 Commuter Challenge, and the majority found that the challenge increased their use of alternative commuting during the entire month of May.

    At the end of the month-long challenge, 70 percent of surveyed employees who normally drive to work said they increased their use of alternative commuting during the Commuter Challenge.

    This year, Commuter Challenge participants also got to nominate their co-workers for the Commuter Challenge awards.  These awards were given to employees who showed a strong commitment to alternative transportation and inspired others.

    2014 Commuter Challenge Awards Winners 

    The Commuter Challenge Leader Award

    • First Place: Grace Singleton, Managing Partner, Zingerman's Deli


    The Super Commuter Award

    • First Place: Sharita Bell, Patient Service Representative, UM Cancer Center

    The Alpha Ambassador Award

    • First Place: Priya Khangura, AmeriCorps VISTA - Food Access Coordinator, Food Gatherers

    The most exciting part of the Commuter Challenge was the organizational competition, where organizations competed to see who could get the most employees to try an alternative commute to get to work.  Each year, organizations with the highest percentage of participation in their size category win the Commuter Challenge and get free worksite parties as a grand prize.

    2014 Commuter Challenge Organizational Winners

    • 2-10 Person Organization: The Greenway Collaborative
    • 11-25 Person Organization: Workforce Software
    • 26-50 Person Organization: Bivouac
    • 51-100 Person Organization: Washtenaw Friend of the Court
    • 100-500 Person Organization: UM School of Public Health
    • 500+ Person Organization: Zingerman's Community of Businesses

    At the completion of the 2014 Commuter Challenge, 1,688 employees from 214 organizations logged at least one commute.  Participants logged 18,743 commutes, 296,351 miles, and avoided putting 253,650 lbs of C02 into the atmosphere.  That’s equivalent to the C02 emissions from 12,946 gallons of gas and the annual greenhouse gas emissions of 41 tons of waste sent to a landfill.