One of my Commuter Challenge Captains asked a couple of good questions regarding the Commuter Challenge.  I tried to answer the questions as best I could.  Perhaps you are having the same questions, or might want to offer your two cents:

I have two burning questions for your from some of the staff.  Many employees work 10 hour days, 4 day work week.  Is there any credit that is given for this scenario for the saved day of commuting?

My response: For the employees that work 10 hour days, we don’t really have a way this year to credit them for working 40 hours in 4 days instead of 5.  Next year we might be able to add a “compressed workweek”
option to account for this.

Also, some of the engineers that work on Emissions made this comment regarding motorcycle and moped credit for the challenge.  How should I respond to this?

***Are we sending the wrong signal here?

I understand the GHG benefit of riding a moped or motorcycle is significant, but I believe the emission levels of other pollutants (like hydrocarbons, including air toxics, and PM) from these bikes is actually higher per mile than most cars.

In terms of a combined environmental and health impacts point of view, I’d say moped and motorcycles are definitely a mixed bag.

My response: I know the motorcycle/moped thing is controversial.  It also depends on the type of vehicle.  I know some people have electric scooters, which don’t have any emissions.  This might be something I put up on the blog as something to discuss.

This post is from Commuter Challenge Ambassador Andrew.  Andrew works at Survey Sciences Group in downtown Ann Arbor:

After our organization joined the Commuter Challenger last May I learned more about the value of a sustainable commute. I took the bus and rode my motorcycle to work; not only throughout May but for a lot of the summer. I didn’t fully commit to taking the bus until my parking pass was no longer subsidized.

I could foresee parking costs adding up and with the addition of the Go!Pass from my employer, I’ve been taking the bus to work for over 4 months straight and saving $150 a month in just parking, not including gas! Since the bus stop’s close to our building the commute is not much longer than parking in the structure. And with the recent nice weather, I’ve also been riding my motorcycle around town as well! I look forward to our organization being at the top of the Commuter Challenge again as almost everyone uses a sustainable commute!

Want free advertising to 1,000s of Ann Arbor workers?  Want to get more people into your business?  Want to contribute to the vibrancy of downtown?

Consider donating a prize for the getDowntown Commuter Challenge (happening May 2009).

You can find out more and donate online by checking out our handy online donation form.

Deadline for donations is March 6, 2009.

The City of Ann Arbor recently posted a status report regarding the implementation of A2D2 parking and transportation recommendations.

For those who don’t know, A2D2 is Ann Arbor Discovering Downtown, which is the product of many years that is working to guide the development of downtown Ann Arbor.  More info about A2D2 is here

Among the initiatives taken up by the City the DDAand the getDowntown Program:

• Zipcar: The DDA and getDowntown are working to bring 4 Zipcars to downtown Ann Arbor.  My hope is that the contract is signed for this by the end of the year and we have cars on the ground within 1 to 2 months of that signed contract.
• Parking: There are now reserved spaces for carpools and vanpools in downtown parking structures and the DDA is working on plans for an underground parking structure on the Library Lot.
• Transit: Service hours for the Link were extended to 11pm.  They don’t say this, but it should also be noted that a Night Ride Shuttle and a2Chelsea Express were also launched.
• Non-Motorized: The DDA has refurbished bike lockers downtown, added moped and motorcycle parking, and approved plans for the Fifth and Division improvements.
• Wayfinding: Wayfinding signage is underway downtown.
• Lead by Example: The City of Ann Arbor is working with getDowntown on a customized sustainable commuting program for City Employees.
• On the Horizon: Plans for a Park and Ride Lot at Plymouth and US-23, installation of parking pay stations, and an express bus from Brighton to Ann Arbor (I actually heard the bus would be from Canton).

It’s that time of year again.  The Ann Arbor Art Fairs will descend upon downtown Ann Arbor from Weds. July 16-Sat. July 19th.

Because the Art Fair’s close many downtown streets and parking prices increasing during this time, you might be looking for other commuting options during this time.

getDowntown has created a page on our website with info on Art Fair Commuting, from which streets will be closed, to what you need to know to get around.

Check it out here: www.getdowntown.org/resources/Commuting_during_Art_Fair.html

Good news! The DDA just put in a bunch more Moped and Motorcycle Parking Spaces in downtown, including some over at Catherine and Fourth, close to Kerrytown.

To view all of the Moped and Motorcycle Spaces, click here.

So I just parked by bike over at the Ann/Ashley parking structure today and saw something I’ve never seen before: all of the moped/motorcycle spaces in that lot were being used!

The reason this is so surprising is because I had been told that these spots are never full.

I’m seeing the same phenomenon with non-motorized bikes.  It seems like everywhere I turn downtown there is a bike parked at a bike hoop, or on a sign, or on a tree.

Now, I’ve not worked downtown before, so perhaps the increase in bikes and bikers happens just like this every summer.  But I wonder if it’s even more pronounced this year because of gas prices.

That’s the problem with observation . . . you can see something, but you don’t really know if it’s statistically accurate or not.

So, I’d be really interested in hearing from folks who have recently started biking to work (either on a bike or a moped/motorcycle) as a result of high gas prices, or for another reason.

You can email me your thoughts at getdowntown@annarborchamber.org

Tonight, getDowntown is partnering with the Ann Arbor District Library to bring you a panel discussion featuring local commuters who are living car-less and car-lite.  The idea is to also have audience participation for this event, so please come and share your stories, too!

Here’s the blurb about the event (from the AADL website):

Car-lite, Car-less: A Panel Discussion On How We Commute to Work

Thursday May 8, 2008: 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm — Downtown Library: Multi-Purpose Room

Ever marvel at the bicyclists zooming by you in traffic downtown? Or gaze enviously at pedestrian commuters? Hear what local commuters Ed Vielmetti, Alaine Karoleff, Scott Munzel and Tamara Real have to say about their alternative commutes. The panelists will discuss their methods, challenges and surprises they encounter, and how using a sustainable mode of transportation helps them get more out of their commute.

This event is cosponsored by the getDowntown Program and the Ann Arbor Area Chamber of Commerce in celebration of Curb Your Car Month. The getDowntown Program (www.getdowntown.org) encourages/assists downtown commuters in the use and development of sustainable transportation choices and is a partnership between the Ann Arbor Chamber of Commerce, the Ann Arbor Transportation Authority, the Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority, and the City of the Ann Arbor.

A participate in the Commuter Challenge just let me know about something very cool.

She “scooter-pooled” today on her new electric scooter.

Check out the scooter she purchased by going here: http://www.evtamerica.com/z_20.htm 

The nice folks at the City of Ann Arbor recently created this map showing all of the parking locations for mopeds and motorcycles in the downtown Ann Arbor area.

Hopefully, this will help those who aren’t sure where they can park.