Here at the getDowntown Program we spend a lot of time talking about the traditional commuting options like walking, biking, busing and carpooling.  But what about people who get to work a little more unconventionally?  When I recently stopped by Vault of Midnight I was surprised to learn that many of their employees commute to work by skateboard. Clearly there’s a strong culture of sustainable commuting at the store, which can definitely be traced back to the owners, Curtis Sullivan and Liz DellaRocco.  As part of our Leading by Example series, getDowntown interviewed Curtis and Liz about using sustainable transportation in downtown Ann Arbor.

Curtis and Liz usually walk and carpool to work and often pick up employees along the way.  They can also be found getting to work by busing, biking, and skateboarding.  They prefer using a sustainable mode of transportation because there usually isn’t a reason to drive.  And one of the best benefits of not driving to work is avoiding all those tickets!

Curtis and Liz find that they don’t have to do much to encourage their employees to walk, bike, bus, etc because they already do it.  Vault of Midnight staff see the value in talking sustainable transportation to get to work.  I’m sure it doesn’t hurt that when you bike/walk/skateboard/bus downtown the parking is free and often more convenient than parking your car.

What could downtown Ann Arbor do to become more supportive of sustainable transportation?  According to Curtis and Liz, it would be great if the City would amend the skateboard law so people could use skateboards as a viable commuting option (currently skateboarding is illegal on some sidewalks in downtown Ann Arbor, click here to read my perspective on this issue).

When asked what they hear from their employees about commuting to downtown Ann Arbor, Curtis and Liz replied that their employees would like to see Ann Arbor amend the skateboard law, have drivers pay more attention to bikes, have improved bike facilities and institute clear rules for cycling behavior that everyone knows and understands.

Liz and Curtis love having their business downtown because it’s a great community of unique local shops. Looking to the future, Liz and Curtis would like to see local stores continue to populate downtown rather than larger big box stores.

Liz and Curtis really appreciate the programs provided by the getDowntown Program, especially the go!pass program.

Finally, when asked what advice they have for new businesses in downtown Ann Arbor, Liz and Curtis replied, “Stick to it, and be passionate—we need your unique business in Ann Arbor.”