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Welcome to the Commuter Connection. Here you'll find tips, trends and info about commuting to downtown Ann Arbor.
In this issue, you'll find winter commuting tips, a Commuter of the Month story and other great stuff.
Questions or Suggestions? Please email me at nancy@annarborchamber.org.
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Want winter commuting tips? We got 'em
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 As we head into the season of office parties and holiday meals, chances are you're thinking about how to keep off those extra pounds.
Well, a sure way to keep off the holiday weight gain is to stay active. And what better way to incorporate physical activity into your daily routine than by walking and biking to work? On average, walking just 1 mile burns 152 calories. Biking burns 36 calories a mile. So just walking or biking even one day a week in the winter can help offset all the extra goodies we eat this season. 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.
- Bring exercise clothes with you on your way to work as well as a small backpack you can walk or run with. Change at the end of the day, put your purse or wallet (and keys) in your small backpack and run home or to a Park and Ride Lot.
- Park further away from work and walk into town.
- Take a brisk walk during your lunch break.
For those of you who think it's too cold to walk and bike in Ann Arbor in the winter, I'll have you know that there is a whole web page dedicated to winter cycling in Ottawa, Canada! Brr!
Some resources to make winter commuting safe and fun:
Winter Biking
Winter Walking
Tips for Winter Commuters by Winter Commuters
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getDowntown Blog news
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Some recent getDowntown Blog posts you might want to see:
Check out all of the posts by going to the getDowntown blog. |
Commuter of the Month: Noree Bowbeer
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 Noree Bowbeer
Imagine being part of a group of friends who get to see each other every day. The kind of friends who call you if you don't show up and visit you when you are in the hospital.
Sound like some sort of fairytale sitcom? Not if you're Noree Bowbeer and you ride the #5 Bus to work every day.
Noree, who works at DTE in downtown Ann Arbor, is one of the #5 Ladies, a group of friends who got to know each other by the simple fact that they all ride the bus to work.
Noree tells me of the time when a new woman got absorbed into the group. When Noree went on vacation for an extended period of time, that woman actually called Noree to make sure she was ok. Another one of the #5 Ladies had major surgery, and the other women went to the hospital to visit her.
"There is a genuine caring about each other," Noree says of the #5 Ladies.
Noree's been riding the bus in different places for as long as she can remember. She's had a vision impairment since she was a child, so she can't drive a car. As Noree says, "Where I live and where I work is 100% governed by the bus system."
Although Noree has no choice but to ride the bus, she has chosen to open herself up to making friends on her way to work. "Riding the bus gives you a phenomenal opportunity" to make friends, she says.
Not only has Noree made great friends on the bus, she has also met some wonderful drivers. The #5 Ladies even have one bus driver that they really like who they say is going to drive them around the country when they all retire.
Until that time, be sure to be on the lookout for Noree and the rest of the #5 Ladies. They're the ones laughing and chatting on the bus.
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Ear to the Street Survey Report
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In October, the getDowntown Program conducted a survey to get your thoughts about commuting to the downtown and the getDowntown Program. Thanks to all that participated.
getDowntown
will use the Ear to the Street Survey data to shape the getDowntown program in
the following ways:
□ Compile and report commuting statistics: As of November 2007, the getDowntown Program
created a go!pass stats page on its website so that individuals can view how
many passes have been sold in a given year and who currently participates in
the go!pass program. This page was
created as a direct result of feedback from this survey. getDowntown is also conducting a
comprehensive survey of downtown commuters to further understand the behaviors
and attitudes of this population.
□ Advocate for better transportation
options: getDowntown will continue to advocate for employers and
employees to enhance the transportation choices available.
□ Stronger public image:
getDowntown will continue to work to enhance its image and visibility in the
community so that all downtown commuters are aware of the services provided by
the program.
□ Greater access to information on parking
and transportation options: getDowntown will continue to create and
distribute materials to help make commuting easier for downtown commuters.
For those of you who took our more extensive commuting survey, we are in the process compiling the results of that survey and should have a report soon.
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| Upcoming Events
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Don't forget to check the getDowntown Calendar for these and other events:
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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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