Another Commuter Challenge blog post from Ambassador Sarah S:

I have some karma to make up for-or more accurately, “car”ma. I ended up driving into work twice this month due to unavoidable circumstances, and I made a promise to myself that I would make up for it by running home from work.

This requires a small amount of planning, because I have to leave everything that I don’t want to carry at home-no purse, wallet or jacket-taking just a small bag with my running clothes and a tube of sunscreen. If I forget something I need for the run, I go without it or jury-rig a replacement. (In case you’re wondering, camping, or lost at sea: it is possible to make a ladies’ sports bra out of masking tape and an ace bandage.) The exception to this rule is the running shoes; I forget those, I kick myself all the way home on the bus.

Come 4:30, I duck into the nearest restroom to change. Friday’s run happened to be a two-fer: I was earning extra commuter credit, but also getting a head start on the last training run of the week. And with the Dexter-Ann Arbor Half Marathon looming large on the horizon, I would need every last mile under my belt.

The run goes something like this, and is set to the tune of the Scissor Sisters’ “I Don’t Feel Like Dancin’.”

I’m gonna be the one who gets it right

I pick my feet up as I go down the hill. I pass the patients smoking illegally at the bus stop, hear the blue commuter braking behind me. Downhill is only slightly easier than uphill; if you lose your form, you’ll get a backache and shin splints. Also, gravity is eagerly waiting for you to hit uneven pavement so it can laugh at you as you tumble into the Arb. Do not give gravity the satisfaction.

Then why can’t I keep up when you’re the only thing I lose?

The breeze is cooler in the shade of the building. My shorts start slipping down; I re-tie them at the crosswalk, hoping that means the weight is coming off after all. I catch my reflection in a store window: calves are looking good. T-shirt tan, not so much.

So I’ll just pretend that I know which way to bend

OW. Tree branch in my eye. I flip my sunglasses down again for protection, weaving in and out of the crowd at the bottom of the hill. My lower back is cramping a little from the hold; I go up on my toes for agility, feeling like a gazelle, but probably looking like I am sneaking up on someone a mile away.

My heart could take a chance / but my two feet can’t find a way

Uphill on Depot street. Must not have heart attack outside the Gandy Dancer; irony will kill me.

If you stick around I’m sure that you’ll be fine

Final stretch up Main Street. I cross as soon as possible, ducking down Ashley to avoid the queues hanging outside the restaurants. Also avoiding the delicious smells coming out of said restaurants.

You can’t make me dance around…

A bee chases me on Pauline. I give up my walk break in favor of a serpentine wuss run, arms flailing until the stadium is out of sight.

But your two-step makes my chest pound

Allmendinger park is full of people-playing tennis, shooting hoops, watching their kids on the playground. I provide some small entertainment with my impression of Woman Who Cannot Get Up This One Last Hill, Because She Told Herself There Were No More, and She Lied. If I can make it up to Seventh, I will make it home alive.

Rather be home with no one if I can’t get down with you

At the front door of my building, my sister’s dog sits up in the window, sniffing to make sure it’s me. I hear a thump and her nails hit the hardwood as she scamper-slides over to the door, barking impatiently for me to find my key. Once inside, I pat her on the head and pull my headphones off on the way to the fridge. I look at the clock: 5:05. My usual bus pulls up outside the front window, and I smile knowing that I would normally be headed to the gym about now.

I saw a couple people out there, but not many. I have a prize for the person who comments here with the longest commute who rode in today’s rain (May 27). Bonus points if you include your tips for being/getting dry once you hit the office.

Personally, I think my REI “Plastic Pants” have reached the end of their tenure, as my khakis seem to be soaked as I write this.

Want to check out the Tigers and/or go to a nice restaurant inDetroit without the hassle of driving and parking?  Then check out the Get Me Downtown Bus trip on June 6th.

Get Me Downtown (no relation to getDowntown) is basically a way for you to enjoy the wonders of Detroit without dealing with driving there and back.  Plus, you get to hang out with some awesome people.

I’ve done one of the Get Me Downtown bus trips and had a blast.  I definitely recommend it!

Check out all the info on the Get Me Downtown Bus and the trip to the D on June 6th by clicking here.

The 4th and Final Week of the Commuter Challenge is all about Carpooling, Vanpooling and Zipcars.

To learn more about Sharing a Ride and Zipcar, check out our Guide to Sharing a Ride and Zipcar in Ann Arbor.

Here are the Commuter Challenge Events for this week and beyond.

Let’s Share Week Events (May 23-31)

Zipcars at the Farmer’s Market (Wed. May 27, 8am-1pm and Sat. May 30, 8am-1pm, Ann Arbor Farmer’s Market): Come down to the Ann Arbor Farmer’s Market on Wednesday, May 27th and Saturday May 30th to learn more about the new downtown Zipcars.

Daily Prize Drawings (all week!): Every weekday during this week we will be giving out prizes to Commuter Challenge participants who log a carpool or vanpool commute.  Click here for details.

Awards!

Besides the fabulous prizes, there are tons of Awards that we will be giving away at our special Commuter Challenge Awards Ceremony on June 10th.  Check out all of the awards here.

Commuter Challenge Awards Ceremony (June 10, 6:00-8:00pm, Conor O’Neils Celtic Room, 318 South Main Street)

Join us as we award prizes, eat food, and celebrate the Commuter Challenge.  Join us as we give out awards, eat food, and Celebrate the Commuter Challenge.  There will be commuting-themed music, special Awards Presenters, free food and more.

Commuter Challenge Captains and Ambassadors, RSVP for the Awards Ceremony Here.

Vote for your favorite!

Some of the Commuter Challenge Awards will be given away based on who gets the most votes. 

Vote for who you think should win some of the Commuter Challenge Awards by clicking here.

Whether you are looking for a carpool partner or want to learn more about Zipcar here’s an overview of your ridesharing and carsharing options.  This Guide is saved as a page on the getDowntown blog and will be updated from that page.  Click here to view the most recent version of this Guide.

What is . . .

• A Carpool? Carpools are groups of two or more people who commute together using a vehicle provided by a person within the group.  A carpool can consist of co-workers, neighbors, friends, spouses, family members, roommates, or someone you just met through a rideshare site. Carpooling doesn’t require a commitment of five days a week. It can be once a week, every other week, or whatever works with your schedule.  There are a number of different ways you can set up a carpool, from having someone pay for gas while the other drives, to meeting at a set location and driving one car to work.  More on carpooling can be found by clicking here.

• A Vanpool? Vanpools are groups of five to fifteen people who commute together using a vehicle provided by the Michigan Department of Transportation (through MichiVan). The costs of commuting can be significantly reduced in vanpools due to the number of people sharing the rides.  For more on how vanpools are organized, click here.

• A Zipcar? Zipcars are “wheels when you want them”, literally.  Choose from a variety of self-service cars you can use by the hour or day. With Zipcars parked in downtown Ann Arbor (and on University of Michigan’s campus) all you’ll have to do is decide where you want to go and when. Click here for more details!
  

Finding a Carpool or Vanpool Partner

• MiRideshare: MiRidshare is a free and easy way for commuters working in Ann Arbor to find carpool and vanpool partners. This service is operated by the Ann Arbor Transportation Authority (AATA) and the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG).  MiRideshare works.  getDowntown has received stories of people who find great carpool partners on mirideshare.org.  One great part of MIRideshare is that you can get a Guaranteed Ride Home if you have to work late unexpectedly or get sick.  Learn more about MiRideshare by clicking here.

• MichiVan: Live far away from work, work consistent hours and want to share a ride with others?  A vanpool may be for you.  Click here to learn more about vanpooling with MichiVan.
  
  
• CarBuddy: CarBuddy is a new carpool service where you might also be able to find a carpool partner.  getDowntown hasn’t used this service, so I don’t know how it is.
  

Carpooling, Vanpooling and Zipcar Resources

• Map of Carpool Parking Lot Locations from MDot.
• Get a preferential downtown parking space at half price or cheaper when you form a carpool! Click here for details.
  
• Park your Carpool and Take the Bus: Park and Ride Lot information.
• MiRideshare website
• Zipcar website for UM Students, Faculty and Staff.
  
• Carpools and Vanpools at UM
  
• University of Michigan’s Ridesharing Website for UM Faculty and Staff
  
• Share a Ride Section of the getDowntown website
  
• MichiVan website
• Vanpools at the UM: Vanpool FAQs from the Unversity of Michigan (Word Document) and Vanpool welcome Guide (PDF).
  
• Van Pools Blog
• Carpool, Vanpool and Carsharing information from the getDowntown blog.
• #zipcar on Twitter

Share a Ride Hints and Tips

• Pooling Pointers from Mirideshare.
• Get a Zipcar Membership: If you sometimes need a car and you work downtown or at the UM, consider a Zipcar.  Zipcars allow you to check out a car by the hour for when you need it.  That way, you can keep your car at home.
• 10 tips for Sucessful Carpooling from Commuterpage.com

Another prize patrol report from Commuter Challenge Ambassador Elizabeth Tidd:

I awarded my last prize to Karen last night on my way home. I think it was the best prize – the goldfish key holder. I met Karen at Washington and 7th. She is part of the Commuter Challenge and says she’s trying to get used to riding in the street with all the cars. Keep it up Karen! Karen liked the balloons that still decorate my bike from Bike to Work Day. Makes my bike very visable!

getDowntown is hosting a netconference on May 27th, from 2-4pm here at the Ann Arbor Area Chamber of Commerce (115 W. Huron, 3rd Floor).  The title for the netconference is  Strategic Marketing: The Truth About Gender and Generational Commuting Trends – and Its Consequences.

More information about the netconference is here.

If you are interested in watching this netconference with us, please contact getDowntown so we know to expect you.

In Celebration of Walking is Wonderful Week, getDowntown is partnering with Vie Fitness and Spa to conduct some lunchtime fitness walks.  These are 20 minute walks that incorporate some strength training.

Our last fitness walk is today, May 22nd, at 12noon.  Walks start and end at Vie Fitness and Spa (209 S. Ashley Street in downtown Ann Arbor).

In addition to a great walk, we are giving away all kinds of freebies, including smoothie samples, getDowntown swag and even a couple tasty and nutritious salads!

To sign up for our final fitness walk, go here.