Conquer the Cold

Conquer the Cold 2026 Information

How The Challenge Works

Conquer the Cold is for people who work in downtown Ann Arbor and Ann Arbor area community members (lives or works in area). Participants must record at least one commute trip that starts or ends in Ann Arbor on win.getDowntown.org to be eligible for prizes.

To participate, log travel to work and personal trips on the challenge platform. You will automatically be entered to win based on the trips entered. Prizes will be awarded for most green trips at the end of the challenge, those reaching 10, 25, 50, and 75 green trips taken (while supplies last), and several drawings from among those who have logged trips each week. In the case of a tie for most green trips, the top individual winner will have the greatest number of green trips AND most miles travelled per win.getDowntown.org.

Social Media Contests

Take part in Conquer the Cold on social media by completing one or more of the activities below during the challenge. To be entered into a drawing to win a gift card, participants can either 1) post content reflecting the prompt on Instagram or Facebook and tag “@getDowntown” or 2) submit content meeting the same criteria to information@getDowntown.org. Entries must be visible on getDowntown’s Instagram and Facebook tagged posts or emailed by end of challenge on February 12th to be entered. Gift card winners will be selected randomly from qualifying entries.

• Need to beat the winter blues? Nothing better than some tunes! Comment on getDowntown’s January 14th post with what you’re listening to this Conquer the Cold during your winter trips.
• Ann Arbor Restaurant Week is January 18 – 23rd! Share a photo of you Conquering the Cold to reach a favorite restaurant so that we can cheer you on.
• Grab a friend and show us the perfect number of winter layers for you – are you bundled to the max or perfectly fine with a sweater and gloves? Match the pose shared from the getDowntown page on January 28th for extra aura.
• A little cold can’t scare us! Highlight how you embraced the cold by sharing a picture of an ice cream cup or cone you enjoyed this winter.

Follow getDowntown on Instagram or Facebook and look for our lead each week for additional guidance. 

Prizes

2026 prizes include:

• $250 gift card for Bivouac Ann Arbor (individual with most green trips taken)
• Various Ann Arbor gift cards (weekly drawings)
• Fuzzy socks* (new signups on win.getDowntown.org who record 1 trip during Conquer the Cold 2026)
• Fleece ear band* (10 green trips)
• Stuffed penguin* (25 green trips)
• Thermal bottle* (50 green trips)
• Scarf* (75 green trips)

*Items will be available to qualifying participants while supplies last. 

Winter Commuting Resources & Videos

For future bus riders:

• Watch this 2-minute video about how to use TheRide.
• Use VR to interact with all the features of TheRide’s buses or get an inside look by watching the recorded video.
• Tips on how to ride the bus in winter weather are available on TheRide's YouTube channel under the Winter Riding Tips playlist.
• U-M community: Did you know you ride TheRide for free with your MCard? Simply have your MCard in your hand when you board the bus and the driver will tell you what to do next. Find additional details here.
• Find additional bus resources at www.getdowntown.org/commuter-resources/bus

For sidewalk users:

• Find information about Ann Arbor’s sidewalk snow and ice removal responsibilities.
• Find additional walking resources at www.getdowntown.org/commuter-resources/walk

For people who want to drive less:

• Park for free and take the bus using one of TheRide’s designated or shared parking locations.
• Share the responsibility of driving into Washtenaw County during winter with other employed adults by joining the VanRide program.
• Check if there is anyone seeking a carpool or vanpool partner from your town at CommuterConnectMI.org. The results might surprise you!
• U-M community, check out the resources provided by U-M Logistics, Transportation & Parking

For aspiring and current bicyclists:

• Common Cycle, welcomes the public to seek help from volunteers and use tools to maintain and repair bicycles at their dedicated workspace (416 W. Huron St., Suite 11, Ann Arbor, MI 48103) on Sundays from 11am to 3pm.
• Review how to load your bike on TheRide here.
• See a map of bike lanes and trails in Washtenaw County (as of 2022).
• Learn about free and paid bike parking locations in downtown Ann Arbor.
• Find additional biking resources at www.getdowntown.org/commuter-resources/bike

TEAM CAPTAIN RESOURCES

Here are some tips for motivating and growing your team!

1. Create a team and add members to see your stats together via win.getDowntown.org/account/racing. Members cannot add themselves to your team.
2. Pick up free resources and trinkets for your team from the getDowntown Program! Resources include bus schedules, how to ride the bus, how to bring your bike on TheRide, and more. Reach out to us to make arrangements.
3. Invite co-workers, family, and friends to join you at one of our events or ask them to complete one of the social media activities with you!
4. Plan a fun midpoint check-in during the last week of January to keep your group engaged and accountable.
5. For questions, ideas, and troubleshooting help, contact information@getdowntown.org

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can participate and win?

Conquer the Cold is for people who work in downtown Ann Arbor and Ann Arbor area community members (lives or works in area). Participants must record at least one commute trip that starts or ends in Ann Arbor to be eligible for prizes.

How can I participate in Conquer the Cold?

Log any local trips you take to work, shopping, and more on win.getDowntown.org or the getDowntown app (Apple | Google) . You will automatically be entered to win prizes based on the trips you report between January 12 - February 12, 2026.  Take part in Conquer the Cold on social media by completing one or more of the activities described on this page. 

What are the prizes?

Prizes will be awarded for most green trips at the end of the challenge, those reaching 10, 25, 50, and 75 green trips taken (while supplies last), and several drawings from among those who have logged trips each week or participated in the social media challenge activities. 

What are the social media challenges?

Take part in Conquer the Cold on social media by completing one or more of the activities below during the challenge. Make sure to post content reflecting the prompt and tag “@getdowntown” on Instagram or Facebook or submit content meeting the same criteria to information@getDowntown.org by February 12, 2026. 

• Need to beat the winter blues? Nothing better than some tunes! Comment on getDowntown’s January 14th post with what you’re listening to this Conquer the Cold during your winter trips.
• Ann Arbor Restaurant Week is January 18 – 23rd! Share a photo of you Conquering the Cold to reach a favorite restaurant so that we can cheer you on.
• Grab a friend and show us the perfect number of winter layers for you – are you bundled to the max or perfectly fine with a sweater and gloves? Match the pose shared from the getDowntown page on January 28th for extra aura.
• A little cold can’t scare us! Highlight how you embraced the cold by sharing a picture of an ice cream cup or cone you enjoyed this winter.

Should I start or join a team to participate? 

Teams are not required to participate. Starting a team with your co-workers, family or friends allows you to see your results together and gain motivation from friendly competition! Only the person who starts the team can add other participants to their team. There are no team prizes during Conquer the Cold. 

When is the last day to participate? 

Participants have until February 12, 2026 to participate in activities that qualify for the prizes. The last day to log trips completed during the challenge is February 19, 2026.

What forms of transportation count for this challenge?

Trips that count as sustainable transportation include walking, biking, carpooling or vanpooling, using public transit, scootering, multi-mode (such as biking or driving to a bus stop then taking the bus), or teleworking. Workouts (such as walking, biking, or running a loop for exercise in a park) should not be recorded as part of Conquer the Cold. Drive-alone trips can be recorded but will not count towards prizes.

Is earning points part of Conquer the Cold? 

Points are not directly related to outcomes in Conquer the Cold. Points can be earned on the challenge platform, win.getDowntown.org. These points can be redeemed for discounts at participating businesses as described in the “Rewards” section of the platform. 

Can my Conquer the Cold prize be mailed to me? 

Most prizes must be picked up from staff at the Blake Transit Center. Individuals who earn or win prizes will be contacted by email about how and when prizes can be picked up. Please make sure your settings on win.getDowntown.org or the getDowntown app allow administrators to send emails to you so that notifications can be made.