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    1. Bus

    Commuter Challenge Sign Ups Reach Record Levels

    April 21, 2015
    Related To: Ann Arbor Area Transportation Authority (TheRide) (AAATA)

    Despite lower gas prices, more employees than ever are signing up to try an alternative commute during the 2015 Commuter Challenge, happening in May.  With over 800 registrants to date, the Commuter Challenge is on track to break last year’s record for total participation.

    The Commuter Challenge is a fun, free alternative commuting competition that happens during the month of May. The Challenge has been an Ann Arbor area institution since 2005. During the Challenge, Ann Arbor area organizations compete to see who can get the most employees to try an alternative commute.

    New this year are a completely revamped website and more chances for organizations and indivudals to win.

    Among the participating organizations this year is Imagine Three . Hannah, an employee at Imagine Three and a dedicated bus commuter, is excited to try doing a bike commute from her home in Ypsilanti to her work in downtown Ann Arbor.

    Organizations already signed up for the Commuter Challenge include Proquest, Workforce Software, The city of Ann Arbor, Washtenaw County Trial Court, Zingerman’s Community of Businesses, Amplifinity, McKinley, UM-ITS, UM-School of Public Health, The Cupcake Station and hundreds more.

    From Green Commute Day to Bike to Work Day, there are plenty of events during the Challenge to get people excited about alternative commuting.  Every week of the Challenge highlights a different type of alternative commuting.  Click here for information on Commuter Challenge events.

    Employees who work at Ann Arbor area organizations can sign up for the 2015 Commuter Challenge now online.  Organizations with the highest participation in their employee size category will win a worksite party.  Any employee who logs at least one commute gets free ice cream. All of the prizes can be viewed by clicking here.

    The Commuter Challenge is organized by the Ann Arbor Area Transportation Authority and the getDowntown Program in partnership with the University of Michigan Parking and Transportation Services, The Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority and the City of Ann Arbor.  The 2015 Commuter Challenge is sponsored by Arbor Research Collaborative for Health, Google Ann Arbor and the Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority.

    Last year approximately 200 Organizations competed in the Commuter Challenge and over 1,600 participants logged at least one alternative commute in the month of May. Participants collectively logged 18,743 commutes and saved 253,650 lbs of C02.