Here’s a Me and My bike submission from Kiersten Batzli.  There’s still time to submit your story as part of our weekly challenge!

What I like most about my bike is that it gives me the freedom to explore and enjoy wherever I’m going.  I’m much more aware of where I am and what’s going on around me when I’m on my bike and so I don’t miss out on awesome things that I might not notice if I were in a car.

Being on my bike makes me feel more connected and I can ride my bike to get to know a place.  I particularly liked riding the Tour de Troit last year — I saw more of Detroit than I would have otherwise!

My friends and I ride our bikes to favorite places in Dexter and Ypsilanti for good food and good company and it’s always nice to ride back on warm nights with our lights all blinking.

I also love riding the dirt roads north of town on nice days, and I like that I can jump off my bike to look at the horses or help a turtle trying to cross the road.  I’m looking forward to exploring new places with my bike this summer!

May 18 Ann Arbor Bike to Work Day Celebrates Bike Commuting Day and Night

Morning Bike Commuting Stations, evening Bike Bash among the awesome activities.

Bike Commuters in Ann Arbor have a lot to look forward to during national Bike to Work Day.  The getDowntown Program, along with the City of Ann Arbor, numerous bike shops, bike organizations, businesses and others are offering great bike commuting activities all day Friday, May 18th.

“Whether you are a first timer or a seasoned bike commuter, we’ve got something planned for you!” says Nancy Shore, Director of the getDowntown Program.

Bike to Work Day caps off Ann Arbor Bike to Work Week.

Bike to Work Day 2012 Events, May 18th

Bike Commuting Stations for Bike to Work Day (May 18, various locations, 7am-9am)
Bike Shops, organizations and businesses will be setting up bike commuting stations throughout Ann Arbor where cyclists can get free coffee, tea, snacks, repairs, and swag.

Bike Commuting Stations:

• Ann Arbor City Hall (7:45-8:45am)
• Zingerman’s Deli and Two Wheel Tango Station: Ann Arbor YMCA (7:00-9:00am)
• Common Cycle, RoosRoast and UM Station: Hanover Park (7:00-9:00am, Division and Packard, across from Blimpy Burger)
• babo Market and WBWC Station: (7:00-9:00am)
• Clean Energy Coalition Border to Border Station: (7:00-9:00am)
• Wheels in Motion and Biggby Coffee Station: North University and State (7:00-9:00am, at the entrance to the Diag)
• Sic Transit and Mighty Good Coffee Station (7:00-9:00am, Broadway)
• People’s Food Co-op and Cafe Verde (7:00-9:00am, Food Co-op, Kerrytown)

For more details about bike commuting stations, click here

Bike to Work Day Rides
Local Bike Groups and others will be leading rides on Bike to Work Day for bike commuters.

• Ypsilanti to Ann Arbor: Group Bike Commute, May 18, 7:15-8:30am, Beezys Cafe (Ypsilanti)
• Bike Ambassador Rides, May 18, varied morning rides
• Washtenaw Biking and Walking Coalition: Group Ride to Bike Bash, May 18, 5:15-5:30pm, Liberty Plaza

Click here for more information about these rides

Bike Bash 2012, May 18, 5:30-8:00pm, Ann Arbor Farmer’s Market Space

Sponsored by the Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority, Bike Bash is a party to celebrate all things biking!

• Musical entertainment from Joe Reilly and Lori Fithian.
• Food and drinks from Pilar’s Tamales, Silvio’s Pizza, Mighty Good Coffee, Mity Nice Ice and Everyday Wines.
• A bike bling station where you can paint your own bike bell and make your own spoke card.
• Bike commuting classes from AAPD Officer Kathy Vonk
• Michigan Freeride Bicycle Show
• King and Queen Bike Commuter competition
• WBWC photo booth
• Valet Bike Parking
• More!

King and Queen Bike Commuter Competition, May 18, 7pm, Ann Arbor Farmer’s Market
During Bike Bash 2012 (May 18, 5:30-8:00pm, Ann Arbor Farmer’s Market Space) getDowntown will be crowning the King and Queen Bike Commuter of 2012. Winners will receive a sweet bike helmet crown.

More information on the King and Queen Bike Commuter Competition, click here

The getDowntown Program provides commuting information and resources to employees in downtown Ann Arbor.  The getDowntown Program is a Program of the Ann Arbor Transportation Authority (TheRide) and is a partnership between the Ann Arbor Transportation Authority, The City of Ann Arbor, and the Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority.

Who’s signed up for the 2012 Commuter Challenge?

Folks like Steve, City Administrator for the City of Ann Arbor! Let’s see how he intends to getDown:

Steve, what are you most looking forward to about this year’s Commuter Challenge?

Getting out of my car.

Do you foresee any challenges?

Hills.

What inspired you to sign up?

Being outdoors, helping the environment, and improving my physical fitness.

Awesome! And how do you plan to celebrate and relish in your glory after meeting your personal and/or organization’s commuting goals?

Driving (oops, I meant to say walking) to Dairy Queen.

Try Washtenaw Dairy or Mity Nice instead, and your treat will be free (assuming you successfully log at least one alternative commute)!

Lastly, do you have any funny commuting stories to share? Or words of wisdom?

Remember the pedestrian safety ordinance and use common sense.

Thanks, Steve, for sharing your ideas with us! Good luck on those hills!

Do you want to be profiled on our blog? Do you have stellar advice, a funny story, or something else to share with our readers? Then please, by all means, tell me how YOU getDown.

Just send an email to becca@getdowntown.org. I look forward to hearing from you!

Ines is a woman on the go, with her bike in tow! Check out Ines submission for the Bike to Work Week Weekly Challenge.

What my bike means to me? For me my bike means freedom.  There is nothing that compares to being able to use my bike for commuting everywhere I go around Ann Arbor.  It also gives me a sense of independence and accomplishment.  I always carry 2 bike bags and it is amazing how much I can carry with me, especially when I stop to get groceries or dinner on my way home. It only takes a little bit of planning, as I have found out, and I rarely need the car.  Also, biking is so much more peaceful than driving.  I’m enjoying finding new routes to go to/from work, and especially enjoy biking through campus.  I’m thankful to the Commuter Challenge for inspiring me, yet one more year, to participate in the Challenge and to enjoy the freedom of bike commuting.

Ines – US, EPA

Neil commutes into work on his bicycle to reduce his carbon footprint, while getting some exercise and enjoying nature’s beauty. Doesn’t sound like too shabby of a commute to us! Read what Neil has to say in his Me and My Bike submission.

My bike is one of my most valuable possessions. It is a great way for me to get some exercise and reduce my carbon foot print. It allows me to avoid the hassle of parking and the rising cost of gas.  So far this week the weather has been great for biking to work!  It also allow me to enjoy the great outdoors – so far I have seen two deer, a rabbit, and lots of different birds (cardinals, robins, Canadian geese, etc.) on my commute route this week. Ann Arbor is a very bike friendly place to commute so get out there a bike – go Blue!

Neil – University of Michigan

Commuters! Long time no see!

Itching to find out today’s Leader Board Standings? Well you’re in luck–we looked at some different measures today, and of course, came up with some new winners! Here’s the scoop:

Most commutes logged and MOST miles commuted: Irene Clarke from WCC! She has logged 14 commutes totaling 189 miles!

Most commutes logged and LEAST miles commuted: Viktoria Salzmann from the UM Life Sciences Institute! She has also logged 14 commutes–for a whopping total of 14 miles! Now that’s my kind of commute!

Most unique types of commutes logged: Leah Peters from the UM Health System! Leah has pretty much tried it all during the Commuter Challenge: Run, Bus, Vanpool/Carpool, Moped/Motorcycle, and Train!

Way to go, leaders! You’ll soon be receiving emails announcing and celebrating your accomplishments, along with some awesome prizes donated from local downtown businesses!

On May 10, we asked you to post your top reasons for riding TheRide on our facebook page. You certainly didn’t disappoint–here’s a collection of ideas from you, the riders!

• Don Kline gets a kick out of “texting… legally and safely… on TheRide bus!”

• Shawn Beard has a ball “reading on his ride to work!”

• Nate Cradit is crazy excited that “it’s free for U-M employees!”

• Kate Hutchens is happy “never having to look for a parking space.”

• Kari Wilder-Romans revels in “getting a few extra minutes of sleep before work ”

• Amber Hursh Miller is merry that “in colder months, you don’t have to warm up your car or scrape off your windshield!”

• Brian Wojcik is wowed that “the drivers are ridiculously friendly and helpful. I had a driver who stopped and asked a pedestrian if she was trying to catch a bus (she was in business clothes and running up William St. toward Blake Transit Center). Now that’s service!”

• Lindsay Chmielewski cherishes that “it helps you save money on fuel costs, car maintenance, and parking fees!”

• Nicole Berg has a blast because “riding the bus to work lets my husband and I share one car. Talk about a cost savings!”

• Emily Seipel is stoked since “gas prices vary daily (even hourly), and I can plan my budget better with TheRide.”

• Lastly, the Violin Monster says you just might “make a new friend or two. I’ve had numerous pleasant, intelligent, and/or funny conversations with complete strangers while riding TheRide!”

Thanks for all your posts, Commuters! As with most of our Commuter Challenge activities, there were prizes to be had, and Amber and Lindsay won gift certificates to Seva and Connor O’Neills, respectively! Woo-hoo!

Do you live way out of town and generally drive in solo? Are you hoping to participate in this year’s Commuter Challenge, but just haven’t found the right green-commuting method yet? Well friends, have I got an idea for you!

You’ve heard of it, you’ve seen its own lane on the highway, but you just haven’t given it a try. Well today, I have the privilege of introducing an option of ease and comfort, your friend and mine, the CARPOOL.

What’s a carpool, some might ask?

Carpools are groups of two or more people who commute together using a vehicle provided by a person within the group.

Remember, for the purpose of the Commuter Challenge, carpools must consist of multiple individuals who would–or at least could–be driving alone. Accordingly, your six-month-old son, your neighbor’s Scottish terrier, Scotty, and your 107-year-old great, great aunt, who hasn’t driven a car in 50 years, don’t count.

No one from my office lives in my neighborhood–how can I find a carpool?

I’m so glad you asked! Michigan Ride Share has great resources for finding your nearest carpool, not to mention helpful tips for ‘poolers and information about ‘pooling insurance!

I’m not sure a MI Ride Share carpool is right for me–are there other options?

There sure are! Carbuddy, MichiVan, and Zipcar all offer varieties of carpooling, vanpooling, and car-sharing commuting options!

Want to access more information? Check out our Guide to Sharing a Ride and Zipcar in Ann Arbor, located on the getDowntown blog!

Bottom line, carpooling saves money (divide the price of gas by the number of people in the carpool!), eases stress (instead of driving to work each day, imagine riding along peacefully, chatting with your fellow ‘poolers, while someone else does the driving!), and helps the environment (fewer CO2 emissions! less overall gas used!).

If you have any further questions, please contact us at getDowntown! We’d love to work with you.

Hello again!

It is with great pleasure that I announce today’s most winning-est, most leading-est, most CO2-avoiding-est, calories-burning-est commuter challengers! [I've been on a Dr. Seuss kick recently.] Read on for the results!

Most commutes logged: Ron Allen from UMHS Pathology! [He's logged 15 commutes! Wow!]

Most CO2 emissions avoided: Denise MacFarlin from the UM School of Public Health! [She has reduced CO2 emissions by 764.36 lbs during this year's Challenge!]

Most calories burned: Xiaohong Wu from the Washtenaw County Finance Department! [Xiaohong  has burned 11438 calories during the Challenge!]

Way to go, leaders! You’ll soon be receiving emails announcing and celebrating your accomplishments, along with some awesome prizes donated from local downtown businesses!

Who’s signed up for the 2012 Commuter Challenge?

Folks like Alissa, University Library Associate at the UM Library!

Alissa, what has been the best part of the Commuter Challenge so far?

How easy it’s been for me to take the bus this spring!  I love having multiple routes so I can vary the time I get to and from work every day.  It’s also been surprising how many different people I see at different times while taking the bus!

What has been the biggest challenge?

As usual, timing.  One morning I come in later and it just always seems to take longer when I ride the bus than when I drive in.

What about inspiration? Who encouraged you to sign up?

The support from my employer, the UM Library!  They always encourage participation in such activities and it’s inspiring to partake with colleagues.

That’s great! And how do you plan to celebrate your successful participation in the challenge?

I will celebrate with ice cream   June’s a perfect time for that…

Any words of wisdom to leave us with?

Build your commute into your schedule.  It does take me a bit longer to get to work than if I drive, but I plan my day around taking the bus, so it works.

Awesome! Thanks, Alissa, for your commitment to the Challenge and for sharing your experience and ideas with us!

Do you want to be profiled on our blog? Do you have stellar advice, a funny story, or something else to share with our readers? Then please, by all means, tell me how YOU getDown.

Just send an email to becca@getdowntown.org. I look forward to hearing from you!