It is also a voluntary pledge to create a healthier Central Oregon landscape and population. Though not entailing legally binding obligations, joining the Commuter Challenge requires strong commitment and a substantial contribution to the promotion of Commute Options Week.
Definition of a Sustainable Commute:
A sustainable commute is a commute to and from work on a given day that involves a sustainable mode of transportation. Sustainable modes of transportation include walking, biking, taking the bus, telecommuting, carpooling/vanpooling, mopeding/motorcycling, using a longboard/skateboard or other creative ideas.
In 2008, 92 companies participated eliminating a record 46,390 motor vehicle miles from our local roads. We are counting on you to beat those numbers in 2010!
Register_NOW!
COMMUTER CHALLENGER RULES
1- Each participant can earn one round-trip per workday only. A trip is traveling to and from work.
2- Options for modes of travel include biking, walking, carpooling, vanpooling, telecommuting, taking the bus, mopeding/motorcycling, using a skateboard/longboard and other creative ideas.
3- Tally sheet – If two modes of transportation are used for one round trip (walking in the AM and carpooling home, etc…), that person will count half a point for each mode.
4- Trips that are work-related but not part of the main commute are great, but do not go on the tally sheet. Please mention these in the special awards category.
5- To count, an option must fulfill 2 of the following:
a. Improve health
b. Reduce miles traveled
c. Save a parking space
d. Improve air quality
Teleworking - You can log teleworking trips if it is eliminates driving to and from the office.
Carpooling - If you are carpooling with someone else at your business, both of you may enter that you did a carpool commute.
Tally Sheet - Your tally sheet must be submitted no later than June 30th. Log only trips to & from work & any errands along the way. Bike rides to the store on the weekend are great, but do not count for the Commuter Challenge.
How you can Win the Commuter Challenge - The organization with the highest percentage of employee participation in their organizational category wins! If there is a tie , both will win! To be considered a participant in the Commuter Challenge, you must have used a sustainable mode of transportation for your commute at least once during Commute Options Week.
Special Awards - Nominate employees for Special Commuter Awards in 3 categories:
- Best First-Time Effort - person made a noticeable change in their commuting habits and tried a new commute options.
- Most Dedicated - person has gone great lengths to use sustainable transportation.
- Most Unusual Commute - person demonstrated wild creativity!
In order to make your job a bit easier, we’ve compiled some tips we hope will help you in your efforts to encourage broad participation within your organization.
- Get the support of upper management. If you’re not the boss, try to encourage management to participate in the Challenge and have them encourage all employees to participate as well. The Commuter Challenge is a great way to promote team work & introduce employees to healthy and less expensive commute options.
- Give rewards. Internal prizes help to motivate employees and show that the Challenge is supported by the organization. Incentives could range from free morning coffee for participating employees to a bonus day off work. Give incentives for recruiting others.
- Promote the Commuter Challenge to employees. Make sure that an announcement is sent to everyone. We can provide you with posters that you can post in common areas at your work site.
Feel free to use this blurb at your workplace, on your website, or where ever:
Commute Options Week June 21 - 25
Drive Less. Save More.
More Money, More Exercise, More Fun!
Get MORE out of your commute! Never rode the bus before? Always wanted to try biking or walking to work? Curious about carpooling? Check out the Commuter Challenge! The Commuter Challenge is your chance to try a sustainable commute. You’ll love participating in this fun and friendly competition between Central Oregon organizations and businesses. You and your organization could win prizes, awards and more! For more information visit www.commuteoptions.org
- Make it fun! Challenge a competitor or other business of similar size and arrange a prize for the winner (ex: the winning company gets a free breakfast delivered from the losing team)
- Make it easy! Set up a carpooling sign-up sheet by neighborhood, post/e-mail bus schedules and safe cycling routes to work. Make it easy for people to tally their trips: e-mail/distribute tally sheets or create a large board with employee names and stickers.
Sign up for carpool matching at www.commuteoptions.org under “options and programs”, click on “rideshare application”.
- Talk up the Commuter Challenge! Every winning organization last year had a vocal team
leader. Send out frequent e-mails encouraging co-workers to sign-up, pop in their offices and see if they need help. Discuss progress at staff meetings.
Have fun & always remember that we’re here to help in any way we can.
