Thinking of buying a used bike? Check out what Mother Earth News has to say: http://www.motherearthliving.com/issues/motherearthliving/green_transportation/what-to-look-for-in-a-used-bike_705-1.html

Grand Rapids is working on getting some Street Cars, maybe A2 will be next?

In a recent survey, many people wanted to know more about which businesses in the downtown have the go!pass, how many are distributed, etc.  So we created a page just for you.  We’ll keep it updated throughout the year as new businesses get their passes.

To go to our stats page, click here: http://www.getdowntown.org/bus/gopass/Go_pass_stats.html

Can’t walk, bike or bus to work? Why not considering Vanpooling?

As I visted various businesses in the downtown, I hear a common refrain: “I live too far away to bus, bike or walk.” Well, for those of you looking for reduced commuting stress, cheaper gas and parking costs, there is another alternative. It’s called vanpooling. MichiVan (www.michivan.com) runs the commuter vanpool program for the state of Michigan. I asked Michelle Romano Rockwood to write a short piece outlining how vanpools work and why they are such a great alternative to driving to work alone. You can meet Michelle in person and learn more about vanpools at an upcoming getdowntown vanpool event, details at http://www.getdowntown.org/programs/events/When_bikingx_walking_and_busing_are_not_enough

MichiVan Commuter Vanpools

Vanpooling with MichiVan is a cost effective alternative for commuters who enjoy the convenience of sharing a ride to work together in a friendly environment. Vanpool participants arrive at work safe, on time and relaxed. The MichiVan Vanpool Program is operated by VPSI, Inc., the nation’s largest vanpool services provider. MichiVan offers several styles of vanpool vehicles accommodating groups of 5 to 15 passengers. VPSI, Inc. has partnered with the Michigan Department of Transportation to promote vanpooling since 1981.

Additionally, MichiVan administers the University of Michigan vanpool program. The university currently has 70 vans in their fleet, serving about 400 people.

“Today, in our 21^st century world of fluctuating gasoline prices, busy highways and costly parking, it’s good to know there are cost effective alternatives for commuters,” said Jackie Shinn, MDOT Chief Deputy Director. There are approximately 1,800 people served by commuter vans each day. This means there are fewer vehicles on Michigan roads and highways. “This is good for the environment and reduces emissions in the air we breathe.”

Established in 1977 and headquartered in Troy, Michigan, VPSI operates a fleet of over 4,000 vehicles throughout the United States and Europe. With offices in more than 25 major cities, VPSI has the resources to organize cost saving vanpools almost anywhere in the country. For more information on the MichiVan Vanpooling Program, visit www.michivan.com or call 1-800-VAN-RIDE.

For more on vanpooling, check out getDowntown’s upcoming event: Vanpooling: When walking, biking and busing are not enough.

This last Friday, I had the pleasure of microcoworking with the gang from Pure Visibility as well as some folks from Vague Innovation, and a freelance writer named Kim. This is a weekly event where people get together to work, chat and hang out.

So the reason I went to visit Pure Visibility is because of their extreme dedication to being a commuter friendly business. Here’s what they do:

• They actually have two company cars that their employees can use during the day so they don’t have to drive to work. This has been a great way to encourage employees to take the bus and walk because they know they have a guaranteed ride when they need one.
• They are avid go!pass users. Especially Ed Vielmetti, local blogger extraordinaire, who sang the praises of the AATA’s RideTrak software, which allows him to know exactly when a bus will be at his stop, so he doesn’t’ have to wait in the cold (to use online, simply click on the RideTrak Link above and select your route to find out where the bus is).
• Manager Catherine Juon encourages her employees to choose alternatives to driving in their cars alone. As a result of management support, many employees walk, bike and bus because they want to and see the benefits of their choice.

I thought it was cool that Ed is actually so well known in this community that sometimes when he walks to work someone will drive by and pick him up. I think that’s pretty cool.

Of course, I couldn’t talk to a group of engaged commuters without discussing some of the issues people have with commuting to the downtown.

It’s hard to take a bus or walk or bike when you live in Chelsea or Webster Township (as some employees do). And yes, at this point, that’s a definite problem. But that’s why I need to hear from you so the getDowntown Program can continue to advocate for the type of commuting options that would work best for you.

Many in the coworking group were excited about the rail possibilities and were hoping some other alternatives would come around soon. I also spoke to the group about MichiVan, who runs a vanpool program in the Metro Detroit area. If you want to learn more about vanpooling, a real possibility for commuters who live far from downtown, please attend our upcoming Vanpool presentation in December.

We also talked a bit about bike commuting and how individuals do not always feel safe biking to work. I hope getDowntown can work with the Washtenaw Biking Walking Coalition to provide a safer biking experience for others.

And a visit to a bunch of great tech people would not be complete without talking about some tech stuff. So before I left for the day, Ed got getDowntown on twitter and added a getDowntown group to my Facebook page. I was also instructed to blog more and post events on Upcoming. Will do!

I had a great time visiting with all of the people at Pure Visibility, Vague Innovation and others. I applaud PV for being so dedicated to giving their employees the options they deserve.

Ah yes, it’s that time of year again when bikes and leaves must battle for possession of the highly coveted sides of the street.  As a bike commuter, I am all too aware of this problem as I bike down liberty and see the bike lanes disappear in front of me to make room for leaves that will be picked up by the city in the next couple of days.

Sigh  . . . yes, this is a problem, and one that people have brought up time and time again.  And it’s a challenge because people are putting the leaves out so they can get picked up and the only time many people have to rake leaves is the weekend, so they rake them to the curb and then they sit there, posing and obstacle for those of us commuting by bike.

I’ve gotten a call about this, and I am sure this person is not the only concerned citizen.

So what to do?  What do you do when there are a bunch of leaves in your way?  What suggestions do you have for the City, etc. to remedy this problem?

I’m all ears.  As for me, I’ll just bike into traffic until the leaves get picked up.

I recently took some pictures of how you load your bike onto an AATA bus. You can view the step by step instructions here: http://www.getdowntown.org/bus/bikes_bus.html

This just in: The Senate is debating a Rail Investment and Improvement Act. Your Senators need to hear that you support the improvement of rail, particularly to urban areas. Call Now!

Action Alert Here: http://capwiz.com/nlc/callalert/index.tt?alertid=10477666

I’m serious.  Check it out: http://www.theride.org/namethatbug.asp

every year, because I bike.  Just found this great Alternative Mode Savings Calculator, which let’s you see how much money, calories, and pounds of carbon monoxide you save if you choose an alternative mode.

Lucky (or unlucky?) for me I only live about 2 miles from work.

Another wow enducing number: if you commute from Ypsi to Ann Arbor by bus (about 24 miles round trip) you’d save $4,380 dollars a year.  Cool.

Hey, even commuting 10 miles round trip by bus for ONE DAY a week for a year would save you $365 and reduce carbon emissions by  25.6 pounds.

I really like this calculator because it shows you exactly how much you can save and loose by choosing another mode.  Even for one day a week.

Check it out here: http://www.smarttrips.org/transportation/savingsCalculator.aspx