getDowntown has partnered with Walker Tracker to create an Ann Arbor community for all of you walkers out there.  Walker Tracker is an online community where you can log your steps and see how you compare to others in your community.  You can also share thoughts about your walking experience.  This is a free service.  You can sign up here: http://annarbor.walkertracker.com/

During Curb Your Car Month we are going to be having a competition on Walker Tracker to see who can log the most steps for the month of May.  The winner gets a $25 gift certificate to the downtown restaurant of their choice!

All you need is a pedometer and you can start logging your steps on May 1.  If you don’t have a pedometer, the Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority is offering free pedometers to the first 30 people who request them.  So email me (getdowntown@annarborchamber.org) if you want a pedometer and I can get one for you from the DDA (if you are among the first 30).  If you would like to buy your own pedometer, I know they sell them at Fourth Avenue Birkenstock.

So please sign-up on the Walker Tracker Ann Arbor Community.  And tell your friends to sign up, too!   Sign up here: http://annarbor.walkertracker.com/

An article appeared in the Detroit News today detailing plans to bring Zipcars to downtown Ann Arbor.  getDowntown has been working hard (I think since November) to make this happen.  I am really excited about Zipcars because I really do see it as a way to ease people into the idea of biking, walking, and busing to work, because should they need a car, it’s there.

I look forward to presenting a funding proposal to the DDA tomorrow and seeing how it goes from there!