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.

Treehugger recently posted an interesting set of ideas for how to make your City more bike and ped friendly.

Their suggestions (in sum):

1. Take away right on red turns for cars
2. Install more red light enforcement cameras
3. Have more parties (e.g. excuses to close the roads)
4. Rein in distracted driving (e.g. drivers with cell phones)
5. Support limited speed limits to 20 mph
6. Go on a Tweed Ride (you’ll have to read the post to see what this is)
7. Look to New York City for inspiration

The interesting part about many of these ideas is that Ann Arbor is already doing many of them.  The idea of no turn on red was suggested in the Ann Arbor Non-motorized plan.  We have lots of parties downtown (Art Fair, Green Fair, the Car Show, etc), which I think definitely makes it more pedestrian friendly.  Downtown people can’t really go more than 20 mph and I know the City as a whole has struggled with speed limits.  We might not have a Tweed Ride but we do have the Ride Around Town (RAT–thanks WBWC!).  Especially downtown, I think we are moving in the right direction on many of these items.

What do you think is missing from this list?  What else could we do downtown and elsewhere to create a better environment for peds and cyclists in Ann Arbor?

FYI:

Want to get together with like minded folks to talk about issues related to biking and walking?  The WBWC is planning to have periodic social gatherings in various places and times to let people get together to talk about issues that concern them and help them find ways to work to improve those conditions if so inclined.

Or just show up to talk about issues of the day, such as sidewalk snow clearing, street maintenance, best routes for commuting from point A to B, recommendations for equipment, the list of possibilities is endless!  We will have at least one WBWC board member in attendance to help answer questions or provide information on projects we are working on.

To start off these meetings, we will have an informal gathering this Friday afternoon at 6pm at the Full Moon bar.  It is a smoke free location with inexpensive food, lots of beer selections, and quiet enough in the early evening to have decent conversations without yelling.  Look for the bike helmets and reflective vests.
Some of us should be there until at least 7:30pm, longer if good discussion is happening!

Full Moon is on Main Street between Liberty and Washington, used to be called the Monkey Bar.

We will try to give more notice before future get-togethers, we would like to have these happen every few weeks if people enjoy them.

Pete (WBWC Board Member)

Get your bike road ready in 5 easy steps. Learn some walk safety tips. Check out how to use Zipcar.

Drive Less.  Save More. is an Oregon-based program to encourage people to–well–Drive less and save more!

One of the neat things they have on there website are how-to videos related to different modes of transportation.

Check it out here.

FYI:

Internationally renowned walkability expert Dan Burden is visiting Lansing next Friday, February 12th to do an all-day workshop at the Michigan Municipal League.

Click here for all the info

Where do you go to find information on the best places to eat downtown? What about where to grab the best cup of coffee? Chances are you have a go-to source for this kind of information, whether it is a friend, a co-worker, or some online source.

But who could you turn to for help with your downtown commute? Maybe you’re sick and tired of paying for parking. Maybe you’re new to the downtown and what to get a sense of all your options.

No matter the reason, there is a great resource you can use if you work in downtown Ann Arbor. It’s the getDowntown Program. The getDowntown Program provides FREE commuting information for employees in downtown Ann Arbor. We know the bus routes, have figured out Park & Ride lots, and ride our bikes to work. We can answer any downtown commuting questions you have, and we can do it for free.

Click here to ask getDowntown a Commuting Question

Commuting Questions Answered

Here’s a taste of the kind of questions we can answer. These are actual questions from actual downtown employees:

Downtown Employee: I commute regular hours (M-F, 9-5) from Toledo to downtown Ann Arbor. Are you aware of any shuttle or carpooling opportunities (or where to find them) for folks who travel between Toledo and downtown Ann Arbor?

getDowntown: There are a couple of options for you.

Mirideshare.org: One option is mirdeshare.org, which is a carpool site run by the Ann Arbor Transportation Authority and the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG). All you have to do is go to mirideshare.org, enter in your information, and look for a match!

MichiVan: You might also be interested in vanpooling to work with other people who work in downtown Ann Arbor, including at the UM. The getDowntown Program can assist you with this, or you can do it yourself at www.michivan.com

If you do decide to carpool or vanpool to work, keep in mind that getDowntown offers preferential carpool and vanpool parking at various parking structures downtown.

Downtown Employee: I live in Ypsilanti Township, close to Huron River Drive. The AATA buses don’t go this far and there isn’t a Park & Ride Lot in the area. Can I park at a shopping center parking lot and take the bus from there?

getDowntown: This might be an option for you. The getDowntown Program can help by connecting with the manager of the shopping center to see if it is ok for you to park at that location.

Got a Commuting Question? I bet we have an answer! Click here to ask us a commuting question today!

This past semester, some students at the UM have been working on an app that would encourage people to walk (to work, downtown, etc).  As the Director of the getDowntown Program, I was asked to provide some feedback and support to the students.

The students have moved to the final stages of the creation of the app.  Check out the walking app and its super cute mascot Mibo here.

If you are interested in some of the other aspects of developing the app (usability testing, etc) , click on the tabs in the blog.

What I think is most exciting about this app and the others I’ve been seeing is that there appears to be a lot of potential to really make commuting easier.  Exciting times ahead for sure.

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?

Recently the Washtenaw Biking and Walking Coalition organized a discussion on pedstrian issues in Ann Arbor.

While it is true that it’s much safer to be a pedestrian in Ann Arbor than in other Michigan Cities, this video created as part of the presentation also shows how much further we have to go.

If you are interested in knowing how many Michigan metro areas rank when it comes to pedestrian safety, check out Transportation for America’s facts heet on this issue. Among some of the facts:

• The Flint area is the most dangerous area for pedestrians in the state and is way more dangerous than the national average.  The Ann Arbor area is the safest and is way less dangerous than the national average.

Read the report here.

The getDowntown Program provides sustainable commuting programs and services for downtown Ann Arbor workers and their employers.  As the cold weather approaches, we thought we’d share what we’ve learned about walking and biking to work in Ann Arbor in winter.

Basic Gear for Winter Commuting

• Windproof gear: Keeps you a lot warmer than just fleece
• Waterproof boots/shoes
• Hat, scarf, gloves/mittens
• Balaclava (scarf and hat all in one!)
• Lights (for bike commuting)
• Bus fare for bus in case the weather is just too nasty/you get tired
• Change of clothes for work if you think you’ll get sweaty
• Layers!!!
• Warm socks (Smart Wool, regular wool, etc)
• Fenders for your wheels. Prevent the stripe!

Nice to Have but Not Essential

• Yak-Traks for your shoes (can get at Bivouac and other downtown stores)
• MP3 player/iPod (for walking)
• Beater Bike for winter commuting
• Fixed Gear Bike for winter commuting.
• Chain guard
• Tires with spikes in them.

Basic Hints and Tips for Winter Bike Commuting

• Give yourself more time. When it gets really cold/snowy, it can slow you down.
• Don’t be afraid to get further out onto the street. If the sides of the street are filled with snow, get further out into the lane. This may seem scary, but it is better than wiping out in a snowdrift. Choose routes with lower traffic, or routes with slower speeds.
• About an inch of snow is ok. If it’s only going to snow an inch, you should be able to bike just fine. After that, you might want to be careful.
• Beware of a wet bike and a cold garage. If your bike gets wet and then freezes, you might have some issues with the chain (i.e. it could stick) so either wipe off your wet bike before you store it, or put it someplace warm.
• Snow is a go but ice isn’t nice. Of all conditions, icy ones are actually the worst. When you encounter ice, keep yourself as straight as possible, don’t weave at all. As long as the patch isn’t too long and you aren’t going too fast, you should be ok.
• Stay straight as you can. On both ice and snow, try not to weave much. This is a similar tip that you have when driving in the snow. Sudden turns in wintry conditions can cause you trouble.
• Your feet and hands get cold first. Make sure to get a good pair of windproof gloves or mittens to keep your hands warm and some nice insulated boots for your feet.
• Hats and scarves are also great. I find that my chin gets cold as does my head, so a nice fleece scarf and hat with ear flaps does the trick. And I got both items from Value World.
• Windproof gear rocks. For an outer layer, focus on something windproof. This will help protect you from cold gusts of wind.
• Yes, I do wear a snow suit. When it gets below 20 degrees, I put on a snow suit (the overall kind) over my clothes. It works really well to keep out the cold.
• A beater bike can help keep your regular bike clean and nice. I have an older bike that I use when it gets nasty outside. This helps to protect my nicer bike from salt, debris, and yucky winter weather.
• Lights are essential. When it gets cold, it also gets dark. So don’t forget your lights!
• Once you start biking, you will heat up, so dress in layers that you can remove.
• Finally, don’t bike if you don’t want to. If it’s too snowy or cold, don’t torture yourself. I don’t want you complaining to me that you hate winter biking because you went out when you didn’t really feel like dealing with it. You can always walk or take the bus (which is sometimes what I do when it gets really bad).

More Winter Bike Commuting Hints and Tips

Keeping Warm, Dry and VISIBLE

In General:

• Layering is key for winter cycling; invest in a pannier into which to discard your layers if you get warm.
• Keep your change of clothes in leak-proof plastic bag inside your normal bag.

Torso:

• Some people find that a sweatshirt and wind/water¬proof shell are sufficient for keeping the torso warm in even the coldest of weather.
• IllumiNITE (illuminite.com) makes cycling jackets that are reflective all over.

Legs:

• Similarly, a pair of rain pants retains plenty of warmth in your legs on the coldest of days.
• Reflective leg-bands are useful for both visibility & safety.

Head:

• You’ll want to layer under your helmet with a hat, earmuffs, balaclava, etc; whichever is appropriate for the weather. Take your helmet shopping with you so you can choose the appropriate thickness/fit.
• Try placing your hat on a heater vent before heading outside; this method will keep your head warm until the circulation from your cycling exertions take over.

Face/Neck:

• You can lose a lot of heat around your neck area. If your shell does not have a collar that seals tight, try a neck band/”dickey”-type.

Hands/Arms:

• Layering on hands/arms is key. Depending on the length of your ride your core will warm up but your limbs might not.
• Ski gloves work well in most temperatures; glove liners underneath make them suitable for the winter.
• Ski mittens may work better for those with poor circulation.

Feet:

• Waterproof boots make the best winter cycling shoes.
• Neoprene socks layered with another pair of winter socks work very well on the coldest days.

The Cycle: Make sure your machine is prepared for the elements

• Fatter tires are better for the winter; there’s more surface area for them to grab onto the available terrain.
• Check your brakes often; apply them early when approaching a stop to clean off their surfaces and your rims and to make sure they haven’t frozen!
• Use lighter lubrication than you would for non-winter condition, and apply it in less quantities but more frequently. Some recommended brands: Boeshield. T-9, White Lightning, Finish Line Cross-Country
• Carry a putty knife or some similar tool for cleaning snow out of “the works” of the bike upon arrival at your destination, especially if there’s the possibility it may not melt before you need to ride again.
• Install fenders (or at least a back fender) for winter riding, but be aware that it may collect snow/ice/other junk during your rides.
• Many people find that studded tires are useful on icy surfaces.
• Outfit yourself (helmet, bag, jacket) and your bike with a white headlight, red backlight and reflective tape (useful for the rest of the year as well!)
• A good LED headlight typically burns brighter and longer than a halogen light using comparable battery power.

Roads/Sidewalks: How to navigate on two wheels in snow/slush/sleet/snow

• Many cyclists actually feel more in control on slippery surfaces on a bike than walking — when cycling, your first reaction when starting to fall is to put your feet down, which is better for your limbs than stopping a fall with your hands. You should, however, be prepared to “tuck and roll” if you’re going too fast to be able to stop yourself with your feet.
• Be on the lookout as you ride for changes in slope (on driveways, sidewalks, crowned/peaked roads, etc.)
• Slow down more than normal for turns and curves
• Watch out also for bumps, pavement joints, grates, manhole covers, etc – any change in terrain can act to trigger a loss of traction.
• Snow that has been tracked through repeatedly by cars or bikes can be quite dangerous; beware of catching your wheel in the tracks of those who’ve gone before.
• Make sure you have bus fare (or a go!pass) in your pocket and a bike lock with you in case you need to lock, walk and ride when the going gets too tough; You should always stop if it gets too cold or dangerous.

Basic Hints and Tips for Winter Walking

I. Layer!

• Layer 1: Keep dry. Wear lightweight, wicking fabrics
• Layer 2: Keep warm. Wear insulating fabrics like fleece or wool that can be easily removed — Avoid cotton, instead aiming for clothes made out of material that will keep moisture away from your skin, so you won’t get cold.
• Layer 3: Keep out the elements. Wear a waterproof and windproof outer jacket

II. Be Visible

• Especially in snowy weather, wear bright colors and/or reflective gear so drivers can see you.
• ALWAYS walk on the sidewalk! If there are no sidewalks and you have to walk in the street, walk facing oncoming cars and stay close to the curb. When at crosswalks, wait until the cars are completely stopped before crossing.

III. Stay Warm/Dry:

• Wear warm socks, like wool, or two pairs, but be careful of blisters
• Invest in waterproof shoes or boots with good traction for slippery surfaces. Light hiking boots may work well, though boots built for heavy hiking might be too cumbersome.
• Wear windproof and waterproof hats, gloves, and scarves.

IV. Be Prepared:

• Carry or store dry socks, shoes and clothing at your final destination.
• Consider carrying a day pack with some/all the following items: tissues, lip protection, a fold-up poncho, sunscreen (yes, winter sun is harmful), dry skin cream, sunglasses (to cut glare on snow and ice), & quarters for pay phones or soda/water machines.
• Bring water! Don’t assume you only need water in summertime. Dry winter air is dehydrating, and you do sweat away water in winter, you just don’t always realize it.
• Many people swear by Yak Tracks: These little items help make sure you don’t slip on the ice.

How to get snow/ice removed from a residential sidewalk in Ann Arbor

To report a sidewalk that needs to be shoveled free of snow within the City of Ann Arbor, call Community Standards at (734) 994-1788 (M-F, 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.).

Here’s what the law is:

1. All snow and ice which has accumulated on the adjacent public sidewalk prior to 6am must be removed by noon.

2. Within 24 hours after the end of each accumulation of snow greater than 1 inch, the owner of every residentially zoned property must remove the accumulation from the adjacent public sidewalk and ramps leading to a crosswalk.

So if someone is not abiding by these laws, you can call Community Standards at (734) 794-6942 (M-F, 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.). When you call, the homeowner will receive a notice which gives them 24 hours to correct the situation. If they don’t correct the situation during that time, Community Standards will plow the sidewalk and charge the homeowner.

There is a lot more info on this on the Snow Removal and Sidewalks page on the City’s website.

And I have been told that calling the Community Standards number is VERY effective at removing snow and ice from sidewalks.

Resources for Winter Commuting

• getDowntown Blog: http://blog.getdowntown.org/category/wintering/
• Great Lakes Cycling and Fitness is doing Winter Commuting Clinics on Nov 4 and Nov 18. More info: http://www.greatlakescycling.com/2009/10/winter-commuting-clinic/
• Icebike: Lots of good winter commuting information: http://www.icebike.com/
• Commute By Bike Blog has lots of great bike commuting hints and tips, including for cold weather: http://commutebybike.com/cats/commuting-101/
• Tips and Tricks for Bicycle Commuting (including winter commuting): http://www.kenkifer.com/bikepages/commute/tricks.htm
• Bike Winter: http://bikewinter.org/main.php
• Cold Weather Walking Tips from About.com: http://walking.about.com/od/cold/Cold_Weather_Walking.htm

Feel free to share your own hints and tips below!