Commuter Challenge

2026 Commuter Challenge Information

Prizes

Organization Prizes

The workplaces with the highest participation rate in their respective size category will win a catered lunch celebration by Sweetgreen!

Organization size categories: 
Small (2-20 employees) 
Medium (21-49 employees) 
Large (50-100 employees) 
Extra Large (101+ employees) 

Individual Prizes

Every participant that logs at least one sustainable commute will earn a voucher for a free scoop of ice cream from Washtenaw Dairy. 

Additionally, participants may win one of a dozen gift cards from various local Ann Arbor businesses, including Comet Coffee, Zingerman’s, Detroit Street Filling Station, Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum, Kerrytown Market & Shops, and more! To learn more about how to be entered to win gift cards, review the ‘Calendar’ section below. 

Challenge Captain Prizes

Challenge Captains are employees who go above and beyond to help coordinate their workplace’s participation in the Commuter Challenge. To learn more about the role, or to sign up as a Challenge Captain, click here.

Rules

Only commute trips (trips to work, trips from work, and telework) count for this challenge. Participants should have a qualifying address in their profile for their work or home address to win prizes. Qualifying trips must be recorded on win.getdowntown.org by 11:59am ET June 2, 2026, to be counted toward the Commuter Challenge. Participants cannot win more than one gift card during the challenge.

Workplaces 
Qualifying workplaces can compete during the Commuter Challenge, May 1 – 31, 2026, to achieve the most participation in their size category (see below). Four workplaces will win a catered lunch celebration at their worksite after the challenge. Workplaces with addresses in the City of Ann Arbor, City of Ypsilanti, or Ypsilanti Township are eligible for the workplace prize. Only commute trips (trips to work, trips from work and telework) count for the Commuter Challenge.  
 
Each workplace will need to identify a main point of contact to communicate with the getDowntown program, known as the Challenge Captain. The Challenge Captain must identify themselves and register by May 20.  
 
Organization size categories: 
 Small (2-20 employees) 
 Medium (21-49 employees) 
 Large (50-100 employees) 
 Extra Large (101+ employees) 
  
Ann Arbor DDA, AAATA and City of Ann Arbor are not eligible to win workplace prizes. In the case of a tie for highest participation rate within a category, the category winner will be determined to be the workplace team with greater average miles not driven. 

FAQs & Tech Help

Why does this program exist? 

The goal of the Commuter Challenge is to help community members become more inclined to commute via walking, biking, carpooling, vanpooling, and taking the bus in May and after the competition. Using alternatives to driving alone helps reduce traffic congestion and other negative impacts of vehicles.

What are the dates of the event? 

Commute trips taken May 1 - 31, 2026 count towards the challenge.  

Am I eligible to participate? 

This challenge is for people who live or work in the City of Ann Arbor, City of Ypsilanti, or Ypsilanti Township 

Can I participate by myself? 

Yes. However, we encourage co-workers to participate in the challenge together and try to get as many employees as possible trying an alternative way of commuting at least one day this May. See the ‘Marketing' tab for materials to help recruit coworkers. If you are the only person from your workplace who signs up, you may still win individual prizes.  

How do I register? 

You can sign up at win.getdowntown.org. All you need to do is add your workplace to your profile and start logging trips! If you’re the first person at your workplace to register, we will reach out about identifying a Challenge Captain. 

How do I earn prizes? 

To learn more about Commuter Challenge prizes, see the ‘Prizes’ tab above. In addition to the prizes and incentives for the Commuter Challenge, you may also earn points by logging your trips on win.getDowntown.org. Points can be used to enter a drawing at the end of each month. These points are unrelated to the Commuter Challenge.

What are the prizes? 

See the Prizes section of this page for detailed information about prizes. getDowntown will provide prizes at levels that fall within the IRS safe harbor for de minimis limits.  

Where can I find all the activities happening during the challenge?

The 'Commuter Challenge Calendar' tab below is a good resource for activities related to the Commuter Challenge.

Where can I find resources to help me with alternative commuting?

Many resources for bike, bus, rideshare and walking can be found on getdowntown.org/commuter-resources. Additional tools to help you recruit your co-workers can be found under the 'Marketing Materials' tab on this page.

Why do I have to log the starting and ending location of my trips?

Logging where your trips began and concluded helps calculate the emissions that could be saved from your trip. The getDowntown program measures and reports the collective miles travelled and the estimated impact on emissions of those participating in the challenge.  

How are the winners chosen? 

See the 'Rules' tab of this page for detailed information about how prizes are distributed.  

What should I do if I’m experiencing a glitch with the website or app?

Please don’t be shy about pointing out a bug you are experiencing! We might not know about the issue so explaining what you are experiencing to us will help get it fixed. Contact the getDowntown Program at information@getdowntown.org

What should I do if I have questions that aren’t answered in the FAQ?

Contact the getDowntown Program at information@getdowntown.org. We want you to have a great experience so get in touch!

Marketing Toolkit

We are happy to share materials to help encourage participation in the Commuter Challenge. Materials for the 2026 challenge are linked below. 

• Commuter Challenge flyer (PDF) – put these up in breakrooms and other common areas at your workplace
• Events calendar – perfect for the employee fridge or other location for announcements
• Virtual background (for Zoom or Teams) – Using a virtual background can be a good way to remind your teammates about the challenge and to log their commutes.
• Commute Fortune Teller – download and print this old-school game to help your co-workers see the benefits of different commute options.

Resources for bike, bus, rideshare and walking can be found on getdowntown.org/commuter-resources. 

May is also National Bike Month. Find information and resources regarding biking here.

 

Commuter Challenge Calendar

Each week, the Commuter Challenge will highlight a different method of sustainable commuting. See below for sustainable transportation events and opportunities to win gift cards to local Ann Arbor businesses. 

Early Start & Monthlong Contests:

• Log a green commute trip between April 22 - May 2 to be entered into a drawing for a gift card in our early start contest.
• Log a telework commute May 1 - 31 to be entered into a drawing for a gift card to Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum.
• First time participants who record a green commute May 1 - 31 will be entered to win a Comet Coffee gift card.
• Early Start Social Media* Challenge: Share a picture of your Commuter Challenge fortune from our fortune teller game. Tag getDowntown on Instagram or Facebook or email your photo to information@getDowntown.org for a chance to win a gift card!

May 3 – 9 is Walk Week.  

• Log a walk trip May 3 - 9 trip to be entered to win a Zingerman’s Delicatessen gift card.
• Event: Join Commuter Challenge Virtual Office Hours on May 6
• Event: Join Bike to Wherever Day on May 8!

May 10 – 16 is Bike Week.

• Log a bike trip May 10 – 16 to be entered to win bicycle accessories from Human Electric Hybrids.
• Event: See you at the Carpool Connect Mixer on May 14!

May 17 – 23 is Transit Week.  

• Log a transit trip May 17 – 23 to be entered to win a Kerrytown Market & Shops gift card.
• Event: Get-to-Know Transit over lunch on May 19!

May 24 – 31 is Carpool Week.  

• Log a carpool trip May 24 – 31 to be entered to win a gift card to Detroit Street Filling Station.

Bonus Activities

• Complete the feedback survey for a chance to win a gift card!
• Are green commutes helping you to save money? Tell us about it for the chance to win a $50 Visa gift card!

*To participate in social media challenges, you must post to a public account on Instagram or Facebook and tag/mention the getDowntown program's account. If your account is private or you do not use social media, you can email photos to info@getdowntown.org to participate.