Mike is the type of person you might not typically think of as a sustainable commuter. He’s the President and COO of a growing company. He’s a dad. And he has a free parking spot in the back of his building.

But don’t let those details fool you. From my interview with Mike it’s clear that commuting sustainably fits perfectly into his life and has some unexpected benefits. Mike Felkey works at Intersect Digital, a small web development firm with some big clients. Intersect has worked with such companies as Subaru and Saatchi & Saatchi. The company’s headquarters is in downtown Ann Arbor (on First Street) and they also have a location in New York (who doesn’t, really). Depending on the amount of work available, Intersect employs anywhere from 17 to 60 employees. Currently, business is on the upswing.

The first clue into Mike’s interest in sustainable commuting comes when we talk about the company’s culture. Intersect is very supportive of telecommuting for its employees. Since many of the company’s employees live in places like Southfield and Novi and since many of them are working mothers, this benefit really helps cut down on a stressful commute. As far as Mike’s concerned, as long as employees get the work done, it doesn’t matter where they do it. We then chatted a bit about Daniel Pink’s new book, Drive, which describes how the businesses of the future are finding ways to motivate their employees through giving them freedom rather than imposing tons of rules. And according to Mike, this philosophy really pays off.

So what about the employees who do commute to work? Since Intersect offers the go!pass to employees, some of them happily take the bus. Other employees walk or ride their bikes. As far as Mike goes, he likes to walk, bike or take the bus to work. His commute isn’t super short either. If he chooses to walk, it can take him about 40 minutes.

So what’s Mike’s motivation for walking, biking or busing to work? He’s got a free space out back, and could probably get to work by car in less than 40 minutes. A big benefit Mike sees in leaving his car at home is that walking, biking and busing are all great for his health. He gets to build some exercise into his day, which might otherwise be a challenge to find the time for. Now that there are Zipcars downtown (a couple just a block from him office), Mike can bike, walk or bus to work even when he needs to go to a meeting out of town.

As we start to chat a little about Mike’s kids (his son goes to Tappan and his daughter goes to Burn’s Park Elementary), I find out another great benefit of Mike’s commute. Both of his kids have grown up watching Mike walk to work and now they want to walk to school. With all of the current news about childhood obesity, the example that Mike is setting for his kids is really inspiring.

When I asked Mike what he might like to see improved about transportation in our community, he lists fixing the lights so they are more in sync, improving the parking downtown, and adding more bike lanes to make cycling safer. We also talked a little but about the possibility of light rail, which is a topic he’s really interested in. Mike even said he’d contemplate giving up his car if there were light rail, especially since there are Zipcars available.

Mike’s biking, walking and busing ways are not unique among leaders in downtown Ann Arbor. Rich Sheridan, CEO of Menlo Innovations, frequently bikes to work. Grace Singleton, Managing Partner at Zingerman’s Deli, is also a bike commuter. Bonnie Valentine of the Whole Brain Group often takes the bus to work. Curtis Sullivan and Liz DellaRocco, owners of Vault of Midnight walk and carpool to work.

Any downtown commuter can join this great list of leaders. All you have to do is hop on a bus, grab your bike, or strap on your walking shoes. If you work downtown and would like some help figuring out which commuting option is best for you, getDowntown can help! Simply give us a call, check out our website or send us an email for personal commuting assistance.

Last week, US News and World Report announced something that many of us knew already: Ann Arbor is a great town for people who want short commutes. Fifteen cities were profiled where the population was greater than 50,000 people and where the commute times were less than the national average of 24.4 minutes. Ann Arbor came out fifth on the list for percentage of non-car commuters, at 27.5%. Cambridge MA had the highest percentage of non-car commuters at 58%, while both Ann Arbor and Boulder CO had the shortest commute times, at 18.4 minutes.

This acknowledgment that commute times are short is important to note. Who doesn’t want to live in a city where they have to spend less time getting to and home from work? The statistics on how people commute to work are significant as well. getDowntown conducted a survey with Survey Sciences Group this year and downtown employers and employees were polled about their commuting habits.

The majority of respondents, 24.7%, stating they commuted between .5 and 2 miles one way to work. This survey also found that 38.6% of downtown commuters use a sustainable option (bike, walk, carpool, bus, etc) to get to work each day. That is considerably higher than the 27.5% noted in the article. This disparity between our survey and the one noted in the US News and World Report article makes sense: they focused on the entire city, while this survey focused on the downtown. So many  people who work downtown also choose to live close to downtown.

It was also interesting to note that 13 out of the 15 cities listed had a northern climate. Waiting at the bus stop, biking or just walking to work might seem uncomfortable in the cold weather but a considerable amount of Americans in other cities with climates like ours do it too. Keep this in mind as you wait for the bus – the one you didn’t have to scrape the windshield of, warm up or dig out of a snow drift – this winter.

This leads to the question: did you make a choice about where you chose to live because of your commute to work?

I recently spoke at the Workantile Exchange on how not to be a slave to your car.  After my presentation, I asked the audience to help me come up with some hints and tips for others wh0 might want to break (or at least loosen) the chains between them and their cars.

Here are the hints and tips we came up with.  Feel free to add your own in the comments section.

How Not to Be a Slave to Your Car

1. Get a decent commuter bike. Get fenders for your bike and chain guard so you can keep your pants clean.

2. Get all-weather gear. Prepare for the inevitable rain, snow and wind that are part of Michigan’s seasons.

3. Start biking when the weather is nice (like now).  Then gradually ease into cooler months.

4. Check out bicycle commuting websites like Commute by Bike.

5. Be willing to spend $200 on a nice gortex jacket and $200 on pants.  And $75 and booties, gloves etc.  These are all worth it to have a pleasant cool weather bike ride.  While the cost might seem like a lot, it doesn’t even compare with how much it costs for insurance for your car, gas, etc?

6. If things totally fall apart, you can put your bike on the bus.  Here’s a step by step picture guide to show you how.

7. If you think you’ll get sweaty on your bike ride, get a membership to the YMCA.  Then you can go to the YMCA and shower there.

8. Learn the bus system. Then, if your car breaks down, or you break a leg and can’t drive, you can still get where you need to go.  Need assistance?  email info@getdowntown.org.

9. Don’t be afraid to ask someone for a ride.  Sharing rides/carpooling can be fun and relaxing.

10. Look at other ways to get where you want to go (e.g. taking the Amtrak or Megabus to get to Chicago instead of driving.)

11. If you are walking, try and find pleasant alternatives. Don’t want on the nasty streets that are depressing and busy.

12. Get a Zipcar Membership. That way, you can see if you really do need a car as much as you think you do.  And they’re good for running errands or going to meetings without paying to park downtown.

13. Read How to Live Well Without A Car.

Any other thoughts or suggestions?  Put them in the comments section below.

FYI, I’ll be doing a presentation Friday at the Workantile Exchange (118 S. Main Street) from 11:30-1:00pm.  I’ll be telling you how not to be a slave to your car.

A little teaser:

In an uncertain world, only 1 thing is certain: you need to be prepared for uncertainty!

Come to this talk and you’ll learn how to be prepared for when gas prices go up to $8.00.  Or when your car breaks down.  Or when a blizzard buries your Pruis in 10 feet of snow.

Should be fun.

What motivates you to change your habits?  Carrots or sticks?

If I gave you $1,000 would you give up fried foods forever?  If fried foods were exceedingly expensive, would less people consume them?

Interesting questions.  And the types of questions I have to deal with everyday as I try to encourage people to change their commuting behavior.

I’ve been conducting a commuting audit for a local organization.  Currently, this organization offers free parking passes for all of their employees.  As a result, all of these employees park downtown.

Given the economic times, this organization is looking at ways to cut costs, and providing $130/month for each employee for a parking space is starting to look like a lot of money.

So that’s where I come in.  I’ve been chatting with each staff member and asking them what other options might work for them.  Pretty much every staff member knows what his/her options are, from using the Park & Ride Lots to biking to work to carpooling to telecommuting.  And it’s clear to me that if this organization stopped paying for parking, many of the staff would use one of those other options rather than pay for parking themselves.

Here is a case where a stick would work to change behavior.  We saw the same thing with gas prices.   No one likes to lose something, especially when it feels like a pay-cut.  And for some staff it is just easier to park at a park and ride everyday and take the bus to work than others.  If that’s the case, should everyone get the same stick, or only some people?

At the same time, the getDowntown Program offers lots of carrots to try to get people to change their commuting behavior.  We have a huge carrot known as the go!pass, that gives employees unlimited rides on the buses, including to park and ride lots in addition to other incentives.   But those carrots only work if there isn’t also a chocolate cupcake (such as employer paid parking) on the plate.  In addition, our carrots are only as effective as the bus service, or the bike lanes.  If the buses don’t run frequently enough or the bike lanes are poorly maintained, our carrot becomes less and less appealing.

The reason I am troubled by all of this is that people see sticks as bad.  Our society sees restrictions as bad.  We are all about freedom of choice.  I think that’s why carrots are so appealing.  But my carrot will only work if there isn’t a better incentive out there.

It would be interesting to see if I could offer an incentive big enough to get people who have free parking to use the bus or bike instead.  Maybe that carrot has to come from the person themselves.

I do see this happen sometimes.  Sometimes someone is so health conscious, they’d rather bike to work than drive.  Sometimes the cost of having a car is enough of a disincentive that the go!pass can be a better carrot.  And sometimes, perhaps, people just don’t want to deal with parking downtown, even if it is free, so the other options are more appealing.

For the most part, I’ll continue to try to offer my carrots.  And when the sticks come, I only hope that after the pain wears off that there is some openness to what I have to offer.

FYI from MichiVan:

Vanpool From Webberville Area Needs 2 Additional Riders

A kind reader sent me the follow graphic that shows you just how much CO2 is emitted depending on how you commute and/or the type of transportation you use:

Makes sense that walking and biking would be the least emitting, but it is interesting to see how much capacity matters with the other modes.  The more you can pack people into a bus or railcar, the more environmentally sound it is.  It’s also interesting to see that the Prius is a pretty good option and would be even better if you decided to carpool in a Prius.

It would be interesting do to the same sort of graphic for cost or time, which people also think about when commuting or using a mode of transportation.

If I were to do the quick and dirty cost calculation, here’s what I would have for downtown Ann Arbor:

Most Expensive to Least Expensive Ways  Get to Work in Downtown A2 (note, car cost calculations based on this calc and a 20 mile commute)

• Car/SUV solo driver driving downtown (Around $950/ month or more with gas, parking, wear and tear, etc.)
• Car/SUV carpool driving downtown (There is preferential parking downtown at half price so around $870/month)
• Car/SUV driving to an AATA Park and Ride Lot without a go!pass (around $840/month)
• Car/SUV driving to an AATA Park and Ride Lot with a go!pass (around $800/month for gas, wear and tear, etc)
• Moped/Motorcycle driving downtown (not sure the other costs, but the parking would be free, I think it would fit here)
• Taking the bus to work without a go!pass ($40/month)
• Biking to work (about $5/month or more if you get a yearly tune-up, need to get tires, etc.
• Taking the bus to work with a go!pass ($0/month) or Walking to work ($0/month or more if you want nice shoes)

As the July Fourth holiday approaches, I’d like to get a little patriotic on you.

I think many people would agree that Freedom and Independence are strong American values.  Who doesn’t want to be able to do what they want, when they want?  Who doesn’t want to be able to voice their opinion, show their support for an important cause, or dance in the streets?

And isn’t Freedom and Independence about having Choices?  And the Freedom to choose between as many options as you can?

That’s what getDowntown is trying to do out here, people!

I think many of us would agree we would rather not be a slave to our cars.  Instead, we would all like to be able to come and go as we please, regardless of if our car breaks down, we can no longer afford gas, etc.

That’s where getDowntown and programs like ours come in.  Because isn’t it nice to know that should your car break down, you’re not completely stranded?  And for the most part, no one really is.

If you live close to work in Ann Arbor  (like I do) if you don’t have your car, you can still bus, bike and walk.  You can even call up a friend or neighbor and hitch a ride with them.

If you don’t live close to work (like many of you do), that’s no reason to be a slave to your car.  Many people who commute find people to carpool with.  And all it takes is going on a rideshare website or talking to some of your friends, co-workers and neighbors.

And then you’re all set.  You can get anywhere you need to go using all sorts of transportation.  Which seems pretty nice to me.

That’s why I can’t understand why people are so hesitant to at least know their options.  Knowing that you could perhaps take the bus to work if your car breaks down seem like a nice safety net to me.  But it’s not always easy to get people to think about it, or even care, until they have to.

But I’ll tell you this.  There are lots of people living in Ann Arbor that know the Freedom and Independence that comes with knowing your options.  They know how to use the bus system (if they have to do so).  They have a Zipcar account.  They have a bike, just in case.  And they know a couple of friends or co-workers they can call in case they need a ride.  They’ve moved from being auto-dependent to auto-independent.

When you are auto-independent, you don’t have to be a slave to your car.  You can come and go as you please, with or without your car, and save money and get exercise at the same time.  Doesn’t that sound nice?

And all it takes is just a little effort on your part.  Can you try a different way to get to work one time a month?  Can you think of a list of people you might be able to share rides with every now and then?  On the more challenging front, can you consider living closer to where you work?  I know this one is hard for many people right now, but maybe it’s something you could think about.

Finally, as many of us know, sometimes our Freedom and Independence can be taken away.  Even if we don’t take advantage of every freedom we have, no one really likes to think about one of them being taken away.  So even if you never use the bus, or get on a bike, why not support these options?  If not for you, than for those in the world who only have freedom if they have these options.  Do it for the elderly, for those with disabilities, for teens, and for those who can’t stand the thought of harming the environment without reason.

Maybe you feel like you are a slave to your car and that pisses you off.  Well know that there are organizations out there that can advocate for you (including this one).  Let them, and your elected officials know how you feel.

So this July Fourth as you enjoy the weekend, remember all of those things that make America (and this region) great.  And perhaps spend a moment or two to think about how transportation fits into that picture.

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.