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April showers means warm weather is finally on it's way! It also means that Curb Your Car Month is just around the corner.
Check out this month's Commuter Connection for info on the Commuter Challenge, the Route of the Month, Commuters of the Month, and other great stuff.
Questions or Suggestions? Please email me at nancy@annarborchamber.org.
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Take the Commuter Challenge
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Get more out of your commute!
Take the Commuter Challenge
Take the Commuter Challenge during Curb Your Car Month and compete against other similar-sized organizations for prizes and fame! Employees and organizations will earn a point every time they log a sustainable commuter in May.
At the end of the month, employees can win prizes such as coffee gift cards, U of M gear, gift certificates from downtown businesses and more!
Winning organizations will also earn prizes and special awards.
To learn more about to register your organization, visit: getdowntown.org/programs/commuter/index.html
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| Route 5: Route of the Finer Things in Life
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Every month Laura Bien, a local blogger and downtown employee writes an article highlighting the wonderful benefits of our Bus System.
Aprill's Route of the Month is #5 Packard
Route of the Month: #5 Packard
Route of the Finer Things in Life
Lauded African American poet Robert Hayden, whose sight in
later life was too poor to drive, rode AATA Route 5. A teaching assistant at
the U-M in the 1940s and a U-M English professor from 1969-1980, he took the 5
from campus to his house at 1201 Gardner,
near Packard. . . . . Not only the choice
of a poet laureate, Route 5 is also the route to bliss for local foodies. Three
nondescript storefronts near Packard and Platt conceal immaculate, tidy stores
offering gourmet tidbits from places
that include Baghdad, Bavaria,
and Bombay. . .
read the rest of the article and see pictures by clicking here!
Want Laura to write about your Bus Route? Email her at ypsidixit@gmail.com with your suggestions and comments.
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Information on Commuter Bus from Chelsea to Ann Arbor
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Starting in May, the AATA will operate a Commuter Bus Service from Chelsea to Ann Arbor.
Early-morning trips will leave the Arctic Coliseum in Chelsea at 6:09
and 7:08 a.m.; stop at Huron and Ashley, Huron and Fifth, and Huron and
Fletcher; and arrive at Ann and Observatory streets in Ann Arbor at
6:40 and 7:45 a.m.. The time schedule is tentative and subject to
change.
AATA is offering interested commuters the opportunity to try the
weekday service -- free -- from May 15-20. Reservations for free seats
will be accepted through April 29, as space remains available.
To learn more about the service, or sign up to be eligible for a seat for the free trial period, commuters may e-mail to rideshare@aata.org, or call 734.677.3922.
You can read a press release about the service and view map and schedule information by clicking here.
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| Commuters of the Month: Walkers!
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In case you haven't heard, Prevention Magazine recently named Ann Arbor as the 3rd best City for walking in the United States. You read right, we're number 3!
One of the reasons Ann Arbor earned this honor is because a lot of Ann Arborites walk to work. When the UM conducted a survey for getDowntown in 2005, 15% of survey respondents said they walk to work.
To find out more about these wonderful walkers, I asked them to share their thoughts and stories
And now let's introduce April's
Walking Commuters of the Month:
John Beeson: Architect, Quinn
Evans Architects
Cathy Boblitt: Administrative Assistant, University of
Michigan Health System Department of Radiation Oncology
Diane Carr: Senior
Program Director, Ann Arbor YMCA
Lindsay-Jean
Hard: Special Projects Manager, Ann
Arbor Downtown Development Authority
Jane Allen: Legal Assistant, City
of Ann Arbor
Dunrie Greiling: Director of
Happiness, Pure Visibility
Nancy Murray: Assistant
Director of Special Projects, JSTOR on Liberty
and 5th
Nancy Stone: Communications
Liaison for Public Services, City of Ann
Arbor
Ira Lax: Outreach Assistant, Ann
Arbor District Library
Carl Scarbro: Environmental Protection Specialist, U.S. EPA - OTAQ:
Assessment and Standards Division
I
asked these commuters 3 things:
- Describe Your Walking Commute.
- What do you like best about walking to
work?
- Please share an interesting story or
thought about walking to work.
And boy did I get some fun
responses. And pictures, too.
Check out Words of Wisdom from People who Walk to Work by clicking here
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| Upcoming Events
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Don't forget to check the getDowntown Calendar for these upcoming events:
April 1, 12pm-1pm: Commute Chat The topic for this Commute Chat will be: why Spring is a great time
to promote commuting
options
April 4: Fairywalk 2008 -- Volksmarch 5K/10K. Starting Location: Arbor Brewing Company, 114 East Washington
St., Ann Arbor, MI 48104. Register and start any time between 10am-1pm.
April 11, 6pm, Liberty Plaza: Ride Around Town (RAT) Bike Ride.
April 15, 4:30pm-6:00pm: Commuter Choices Reception. Managers, Business owners and others are invited to learn about new commuter programs and services including the Commuter Bus from Chelsea to Ann Arbor and more! Roger Hewitt, Chair of the DDA Board, will also speak at this event.
Throughout April: Public Comment meetings on the AATA proposed Service Changes.
Check out all upcoming events on our Events Calendar
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Thanks and Final Thoughts
Trying to start up a carpool program? Want to know more about
biking downtown? Still confused by all those buses? Let getDowntown
ease your burden!
The getDowntown Program is your Commuter Choice Consultant. We are more than
happy to meet with you, give a presentation, or answer your questions.
If you want to contribute to Commuter Connection, please let me know.
Please feel free to contact me so I can serve you better.
Sincerely,
Nancy Shore
getDowntown Program
www.getdowntown.org
nancy@annarborchamberorg
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