Ann Arbor’s getDowntown Commuter Challenge posts new highs

Sure, anyone can drive their own car to work — but how about walking, carpooling, busing, or kayaking to get home? This year’s Commuter Challenge, through the month of May, saw 326,992 sustainable miles logged (up from 286,883 last year), the equivalent of driving around the earth 13 times. In all, 20,522 sustainable commutes were logged (up from 19,967) by 1,848 people (also up, from 1,748). And yes, a few people organized a kayak trip home down the Huron River. “Every year we get better and better,” says Nancy Shore, director of getDowntown, which encourages and supports commuting. Shore also organizes the Commuter Challenge. She says she found that often people have been interested in commuting to work, but driving a car where you want to go is just like any other habit. “The Commuter Challenge was the extra incentive, the extra push to get out of the habit,” she says. “This is a time when (commuters) actually get off their butt and do it.” She’s still analyzing results of a commuter survey, but is surprised to see how many people are giving commuting a try for health reasons. Awards were given to commuters that already rode their bikes to work, who tried various types of commutes, and who logged the most miles biking or walking. Commuter-friendly workplaces were also recognized.Organizations encouraging commuting were also up from last year, to 164 from 138. Considering the cost of gas, participants saved $441,535 for the month, which amounts to $239 per person.Source: Nancy Shore, director for getDowntownWriter: Kristin Lukowski