What is the Commuter Challenge?

The Commuter Challenge is a month-long competition in May between Ann Arbor Area organizations that encourages individuals to use sustainable transportation to get to work. Organizations compete against one another and log sustainable commutes online on the getDowntown website. Common sustainable commutes include walking, biking, busing, and carpooling/vanpooling to work. During the Commuter Challenge, employees may view the calories burned, carbon emissions reduced, miles logged for themselves and their organization. 

getDowntown awards prizes to those organizations that show the strongest commitment to using sustainable transportation by logging the most miles, reducing the most carbon dioxide emissions, and accomplishing other goals for the month of May. The Commuter Challenge has occurred every May since 2005.

Commuter Challenge 2009 Results: In 2009, 139 Organizations competed in the Commuter Challenge and 1,806 participants logged at least one sustainable commute in May. There were a total of 20,391 sustainable commutes logged by participants. Collectively, participants logged 296,103 sustainable miles, which is equivalent to driving around the Earth 12 times! 

The Commuter Challenge Works: According to a follow-up survey of Commuter Challenge participants, 50% of all respondents and 68% of respondents who rarely or never use sustainable transportation said the Commuter Challenge changed their commuting behavior. 17% of the survey respondents had rarely or never used sustainable transportation before the Commuter Challenge. The Commuter Challenge is an excellent low cost way to encourage employees to use alternatives to the single occupancy vehicle to get to work.

Sponsor the 2010 Commuter Challenge: Help us make the 2010 Commuter Challenge the best yet by filling out our online sponsorship form.

The 2009 Commuter Challenge was Sponsored by:

Sustainability Superstars

Transportation Trendsetters

Fresh Air Friends

A few of our 2008 Winners and Participants...