Prizes and Activities Offered for Trying Alternative Commutes in May

ANN ARBOR, MI – The getDowntown Program, along with The Ann Arbor Area Transportation Authority (TheRide), is pleased to announce that the annual Commuter Challenge returns starting May 1, 2023. This challenge is for people who work in the greater Ann Arbor area and runs through May 31, 2023. The Commuter Challenge encourages individuals and coworkers to try alternative modes of transportation to work besides driving alone. The goal of the Commuter Challenge is to help community members become more inclined to commute via walking, biking, carpooling, vanpooling, and taking the bus in May and after the competition.

“We’re thrilled to bring the Commuter Challenge back this year with a lot of support and prizes from local, small businesses,” Lilliane Webb, getDowntown Program Director said. “Commuters have historically loved this challenge and enjoy participating in a little friendly competition with their coworkers. We encourage companies to engage as many employees as possible to join the challenge and try an alternative way of commuting at least one day this May.”

Participants in the challenge can win individual prizes and compete with a workplace team to win a group prize. By logging their first commute in May, participants will be eligible to receive a free scoop of ice cream from Washtenaw Dairy. The challenge will also have weekly contests where participants can win gift cards, and individuals can earn badges based on a number of commuting milestones. A listing of contests, prizes, and rules can be found on commuteandwin.org.

Registration for the competition is now open. People who work in the greater Ann Arbor Area can now log in and join a team to begin getting familiar with how to log their alternative commutes on commuteandwin.org. Video tutorials on how to sign up and log trips are also available on the challenge website. Any trips logged prior to May 1 will not count towards that challenge that begins May 1.

Additionally, challenge participants are encouraged to celebrate national Bike to Work Day on Friday, May 19. Bike stations will be available throughout the community from 7-10am. To find a bike station near you visit: getdowntown.org/events/bike-work-day-2023.

On May 31, getDowntown will celebrate the month of alternative commuting with challenge participants. Participants can visit getDowntown’s table at Bløm Meadworks from 5-7pm, enjoy the company of fellow commuters, and receive a free treat from Bon Bon Bon.

The Commuter Challenge is organized by the Ann Arbor Area Transportation Authority (TheRide) and the getDowntown Program in partnership with the Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority and the City of Ann Arbor. For up to date information on this and other benefits of commuting by alternative modes of transportation, visit http://www.getdowntown.org/.