Transcending the one person, one car, one commute mind-set, the 13th Annual Smart Commute Week promotes alternative transportation methods, including bicycling, BATA and carpooling for five workdays.
Kicking off Monday with a breakfast at Pangea's Pizza downtown, the week runs through Friday, featuring a free breakfast everyday for Smart Commuters at one or more locations.
Remaining free breakfast locations are listed below, with participants welcome from 7-9 a.m.
• Wednesday, June 6: BATA Transfer Station on Hall Street
• Thursday, June 7: Munson Medical Center on Sixth Street and Munson Community Health Center on Munson Avenue
• Friday, June 8: Mustard's downtown at the intersection of State and Cass streets
Other events this week include free BATA Cherriot rides today and a social bike ride starting Friday at 3 p.m. at Horizon Books, which
may feature a break for ice cream or other refreshments. In addition, carpoolers may claim two hours of free parking in the parking deck through Friday and seven Smart Commute lots around town support partial commutes by people who live too far away to bike the total distance.
"We're so used to getting in our car because if it takes too long we're not going to do it,” said Jonathan Pool of Traverse City, who terms his work-at-home life a "slipper commute” but uses his cargo-adapted bike for errands, volunteer work and social life. "I try and use the bike for everything.”
As gas prices soar with the approach of summer and the debate over global warming heats up in the media and communities, Smart Commute Week is especially pertinent this year, noted Bob Otwell, executive director of TART Trails.
"Obviously over the last 12 months, those of us who sort of care about the bigger picture, the end of cheap gas and global warming, that has a lot more people thinking about, 'What can we do?'” he said.
During the Friday morning breakfast at Mustard's, a raffle drawing will be held and the Commuter Cup awards will be given. These prizes recognize organizations garnering the greatest participation in each of four categories based on number of employees: mini, small, medium and large. This year 42 companies are tracking daily how many employees are biking, carpooling or using BATA to get to work.
The 2007 Smart Commute Week includes a new feature: personal challenges among participating Commuter Challenge teams. For example, the law firm of Olson, Bzdoc & Howard and The Watershed Center have wagered a dozen bagels and cream cheese while Faith Reformed Church and WLJN radio station have homemade cookies at stake.
"Part of it was that you kind of have to have a little bit extra going on and there was some of it going on anyway behind the scenes,” said Missy Luyk, program coordinator for TART Trails of these wagers, which also include beer, gas money, pie and gift certificates. "We just formalized it by sending an official certificate that they would hang above their sign-in poster.”
In 2006, 32 teams faced off in the Commuter Challenge, with first prize going to TART Trails in mini (2-5 employees,) Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy in small (6-24 employees,) Great Lakes Environmental Center in medium (25-39 employees) and Cone Drive in large (50+ employees.)
As with Smart Commute week, the goal of the Commuter Challenge is to have people try commuting who might not ordinarily consider it.
"One key that really helps more than anything is the Commuter Challenge,” noted Otwell of the push to promote alternative transportation methods. "People joining a team and getting other companies to do this.”
For more information on Smart Commute Week events, see the web site www.traversetrails.org/smartcom