AnnArbor.Com has two articles on cycling in the Ann Arbor Community that might interest you:

• Plans in the works for a new Saline to Ann Arbor Bike Path: If you live in Saline and would bike to work if it didn’t feel so dangerous, you may be in luck.  There are plans to build a pedestrian and bike path that would span Textile and Lohr roads from Saline to Ann Arbor, “nearly” connecting the two cities.  Read more here.
• Bicyclists and Drivers sharing the road: In many parts of Ann Arbor, bikes and cars share the road together.  As the weather warms up, expect to see a lot more cyclists out there.  Semper Cop Rich Kinsey lays out some rules of the road that both parties should follow.  Read more here.

In the spirit of Google Maps now having bike directions I thought I’d create a Google Map with some suggested bike routes to downtown Ann Arbor.  You can view the bike routes here.

Suggestions for bike routes to add?  Email us info@getdowntown.org

The past two days in Ann Arbor have been a great reminder that the winter doesn’t last forever around here.

If you are a downtown employee, you might be considering dusting off your bike, filling up the tires and getting some exercise on your way to work.

If you like to bike to work, or are considering it for the first time, here are some resources from getDowntown (and others) that can help you on your way:

• Guide to Bike Commuting in Ann Arbor: For a comprehensive overview of biking to work in downtown Ann Arbor, check out our Guide to Bike Commuting in Ann Arbor.
• Have a question about bike commuting to downtown? Ask getDowntown your Commuting Question.
• Bike info at getDowntown.org: Info on Bike Safety, Advocacy organizations and Bike Shops can be found on our website at getdowntown.org/bike.
• Need a Bike Map? Contact getDowntown and we can get one to you.  It’s $2 if you are not downtown, free if you work downtown.
• Request Bike Parking: The DDA has a new Bike Parking Request Form that let’s you tell them where you’d like to see more bike parking.

And Don’t Forget! Follow us on Twitter and become a Fan on Facebook to stay up to date!

If you take the bus to work in downtown Ann Arbor, you might be looking for some ideas of how to pass the time.

A recent blog post from Suite101.com gives some good suggestions of ways to both get things done and have some fun while on the bus.  Here’s a rundown of the suggestions.  Feel free to add your own ideas in the comments section:

Ideas for getting things done and having fun while busing to work

• Entertain yourself: Listen to music, watch a movie, play a game on your portable device
• Exercise your brain: Do a crossword puzzle, sudoku, or learn a new craft like knitting
• Get some work done: Work on your laptop, write up to do lists, spend some time planning things you have to do
• Be social: Chat with other passengers
• Be creative: Write, draw, think
• Be lazy: Take a nap

Any other suggestions/ideas?

The AATA has a couple of service alerts out because of the snow.  If you want to get these send directly to your email inbox, subscribe to MyRide.  Many AATA buses are running about 10 minutes behind.

To check on the status of your bus, you can go to AATA’s Routes and Schedules page and select a route, or you can go to the Mobile RideTrak, which works better for mobile devices.

Here are the alerts that most impact downtown Ann Arbor Commuters:

• Route 17: Due to road conditions, Route 17 cannot serve Fifth Ave from Beakes to Depot via the Blake Transit Center.
• Route 13: Due to road conditions, there is no service north of Sunset.
• Route 14: Due to road conditions, Route 14 cannot serve Overridge.

Keep in mind that all AATA buses are still running, despite the bad weather.

Some benefits for choosing to ride the bus instead of driving your car on days like this:

• If you take the bus, you don’t have to shovel your car out and deal with residential streets.
• If you take the bus, you don’t have to warm your car up.   AATA buses are heated already.
• Buses are a lot bigger than small cars, which can feel comforting on a snowy day when your car might not handle as well.
• You don’t have to stress out about driving in the snow–leave the driving to an experienced bus driver.
• You can enjoy the snow rather than cursing it.
• Rides are free on all AATA buses with your go!pass.

Just came across this great blog post about a woman who normally bikes to work but has had to drive to work for the last couple of weeks.  The woman thought that driving instead of cycling would be all positives.  But instead, she found herself wishing to get back on her bike.

Some of the tidbits from the post on the benefits of cycling to work:

according to a study in the Netherlands, employees who regularly cycle to work take on average one day less sick leave every year compared with those who do not cycle to work.

. . . regular cyclists typically enjoy a level of fitness equivalent to someone 10 years younger.

. . . cycling to work decreases the risk of dying by approximately 40%, plus all the other health benefits: the reduced risk of developing diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure, colon and breast cancer.

Read the Blog Post here: Two wheels good, four wheels bad.

What do we all need more of in our lives, yet is incredibly hard to find more of? Time and money. We’ve talked to a few people that have found that by taking the bus they’ve each saved time and money.

Saving Money

Sherry Miller from Miller, Canfield, Paddock and Stone PLC says that the bus saves her money and the ride is relaxing…

“I believe that utilizing the AATA transit system is a great way to save a ridiculous amount of money that it would cost me to park my car in a structure to work downtown.  Also, I find that riding the bus in to the station from the Park & Ride in the morning is relaxing and non-stressful.  I’d recommend it to anybody.  I love my go!pass!”

Renee Twining, an Administrative Assistant at the University of Michigan Hospital, says that by parking at the Miller Park & Ride and taking the bus each day she saves money.  To buy a pass at the Hospital’s parking lot would be “minimum $600/year to just get close to hospital and then you have to take a commuter bus” to make the final leg of the journey.

Saving Time

Chris DeVries of the University of Michigan CBDSM says that the combination of taking the bus and walking into his office is a great energizing activity each day…

“Since my commute is long (45 miles one way), I have been using the Park & Ride lots, AATA, and walking to get to work. Riding the bus allows me to read the newspaper or a book before and after work – taking my mind off work for a few minutes. The walking also gets my blood flowing in the morning, so I am ready to go when I get in the office.”

Renee Twining said that she gets to read and enjoy her coffee on the ride in.“I LOVE taking the bus!  Relaxing, and I always make it to work on time.”

According to Eileen Chaivre, an Administrative Support Specialist at the City of Ann Arbor, “By the time I walk to the Ann Ashley parking structure, get to my car and get out of the structure, I am passing Pioneer High at the same time or only a few minutes before the bus would be dropping me off”.

Think about your commute and how changing a few habits could result in time and money saved each day.  If you take Miller Road or Main Street into downtown each morning, why not park at a Park & Ride Lot and have the bus take you in? If you’re looking for more information on how to use the Park & Ride lots, or want to know what Lot would be best for you, give us a call at 734-214-0100 or visit http://getdowntown.org/bus/park_ride.html

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.

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!

We just got a call from someone wondering where the new AATA Plymouth Road Park and Ride Lot is located.

For a map of this location, please click here.

For more info on this and other Park & Ride Lots, you can visit getDowntown’s Park and Ride Lot page.