This year are you making a New Year's Resolution to:
- Shop Locally?
- Get in Shape?
- Save More Money?
- Make New Friends?
If so, this issue of Commuter Connection is for you.
Questions or Suggestions? Please email me at nancy@annarborchamber.org. |
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Shop Locally For Winter Commuting Gear
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 Face it. It's cold and it's going to be cold for a couple more months.
But that doesn't mean you can't stay warm and stylish during your daily commute!
Resolve to shop locally by buying your winter gear at downtown stores.
GetDowntown called around to stores and asked them: 1. What type of winter gear they sell. 2. If they offer a go!pass or other discount. 3. If they have any recommendations regarding the items they sell.
Find the answers and all the details on the getDowntown Blog: Shop Downtown for Winter Gear
If you just want a sense of where to go, here's a list of downtown stores that sell winter gear:
Acme Mercantile
16 Hands
Bivouac
Downtown Home and Garden
Elmo's Mainstreet T-Shirts
Footprints on Main
Footprints on South U
Fourth Ave Birkenstocks
Kiwanis
Middle Earth
Moosejaw
Orchid Lane
People's Food Co-op
Red Shoes
Running Fit
Sam's Store
Suwanee Springs
Tortoise and Hare
Van Boven Shoes
Vintage to Vogue
For more info on what these stores carry, click here: Shop Downtown for Winter Gear.
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Get in Shape Through Active Commuting
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 Some ideas for how you can get in shape in the New Year:
5 ways to incorporate walking and biking into your daily commute: - If you take the bus, get off the bus early on your way home and walk or bike the rest of the way.
- If
you drive your car, park somewhere like the Pioneer Park and Ride Lot
(where you can park for free with your go!pass) and walk to work from
there.
- Walk or bike to work one day a week.
- Park further away from work and walk into town.
- Take a brisk walk during your lunch break.
Upcoming active commuting events:
January 10: Curb Your Car Month Planning Meeting: 6:00pm, Ann Arbor Chamber of Commerce (115 W. Huron, 3rd Floor).
January 13: Allen Creek Greenway Walk: 1-2pm. Meet at Sweetwaters (123 W. Washington in Downtown Ann Arbor).
January 18: Winter Cycling Skills Clinic. 6:00pm., Ann Arbor Police Department Garage, 100 N. Fifth Avenue, Ann Arbor.
January 18: Winter Commuting Social. 8pm., Arbor Brewing Company Tap Room (114 E. Washington St., Ann Arbor).
January 22: Walking in a Winter Wonderland. Start time: 5:15pm Starting Location: Eastern Accents (215 South Fourth Ave).
January 27: Worst Day of the Year Ride, Presented by Wheels in Motion February 3: Light Building 101: 1-2pm, Ann Arbor Chamber of Commerce (115 W. Huron, 3rd Floor)
And that's not all! For even more events please visit the getDowntown events calendar:
getdowntown.org/programs/events/
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Save More Money by Changing Your Commute
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Commuting to Ann Arbor by Single-Occupancy Automobile: Costs
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Round-Trip Distance of Commute:
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13 mi*
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20 mi
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40 mi
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Fuel/oil costs (vehicle-mile)
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$0.18
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Depreciation, insurance, crashes, etc (vehicle-mile)
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$0.15
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Monthly Commuting Costs (including parking, etc.)
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$182.75
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$230.60
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$369.20
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Total: Annual Ann Arbor Commuting Costs
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$2193.00
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$2767.20
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$4430.40
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* Ann Arbor Average. Sources: getDowtown 2007 market research survey, Ann Arbor DDA 2006 parking study
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The table above was created by getDowntown to show you how much it actually costs to drive your car to work everyday.
If you've resolved to save more money this year, using other options to get work is a great solution. Here are some of your options and how much you could save.
The following calculations are based on a 13-mile round trip commute:
Carpooling
Carpooling with one other person just one day a week could
save you up to $340 annually
Carpooling with one other person just two days a week could
save you up to $550 annually.
Taking the AATA (using your go!pass)
Using a go!pass one day a week would save you $440.00 annually.
Using a go!pass three days a week would save you $1,300 annually.
Cycling & Walking
Cycling and walking would save you virtually the same
amounts as above and you'd get more exercise. But don't take out word for it, Check out these calculators to find out for yourself:
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Make New Friends: Join us for Commute Chat
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Attention HR Managers, Administrative Assistants, Owners and Managers:
Want to learn what other businesses are doing to encourage alternative commuting? Want a place to go to share your thoughts and ideas? Want to make some new friends?
And did I mention a free lunch?
Join us for Commute Chat on February 5th from 12-1pm at the Ann Arbor Chamber of Commerce (115 W. Huron, 3rd Floor).
We'll discuss topics of interest related to commuting to downtown Ann Arbor. When you sign up for Commute Chat, you get to tell us what you want to talk about. We'll then let everyone know in advance what the topics are so you can come prepared to share your thoughts.
Please RSVP by January 28, 2007 for Commute Chat and tell us what you'd like to talk about related to commuting to downtown Ann Arbor. That way, we can email you with the topics we'll be discussing at the event.
Check out the notes from December's Commute Chat for an idea of what we talk about: December Commute Chat Notes.
We'll also have Commute Chat April 1, June 3, Aug 5, Oct 7 and Dec 2, 2008.
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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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