It’s officially summer. Yes, there is still a bit of rain but there are also leaves on all the trees, the farmers markets are in full swing, people are wearing short sleeves, and getting on their bikes!
More than 500 people and 47 teams are greening and cleaning their commutes. It’s week 3 of the Commuter Challenge; whether you are involved of not, you may notice that people are looking a little fitter, stronger and wealthier as a result of leaving their cars at home!
Great Response:
Not only do we have a higher number of participants than ever before – 25% more people involved & 400% increase in teams, compared to last year!! We also have some really wonderful stories of how people are participating, the impact the Challenge has had across the health authorities, as well as some heart warming, hilarious, even flirtatious stories from the first 2-weeks.
Shout-Outs:
Throughout the Challenge, we have asked our Clean Commuters for stories from the bike-path / transit system or ride shares. Log-on to the BCGreenCare.ca for the full list of Shout-Outs, and check-out this sampling below:
- Shout-outs to Cindy Paddon and Jennifer Lee (both at PHC), captains of the Tea Monkeys and Coffee Gorillas teams respectively. Thanks to them for keeping us organized and “Green”.
- Shout-Out to Suki Futa of VCH, who is training for Ironman Canada in Whistler this year! This Challenge serves two purposes for her: 1. She is trying to become more “clean” in her commute to work and support such a great cause and 2. Getting in some extra training for her own personal challenge! She runs or bikes to work regularly (at least 3 times a week) but since the challenge she has committed to trying to do it every day of the week. She has been enjoying it so much that she plans to continue biking and running daily after this Clean Commuter Challenge and after she has reached her own personal goal (Ironman Canada)!
- Shout-Out to Leo Leung, who works at BC Cancer Agency and is part of the Cyclo-Cycler Team. He tried cycle commuting for the first time during the 2012 Commuter Challenge but this year, he is determined to cycle for the full 3-week Challenge. He cycles from Richmond, leaving home at 3 am to make sure he gets to work with enough time to shower/change in time for his 4:30am start time. During the first week, he rode in the rain without much rain gear or even fenders! Rain or shine, he says that he loves the Challenge and is really enjoying his bike commutes!
- Shout-Out from Alex Hutton, Energy Manager with Fraser Health, who found flowers threaded to her bike basket, day after day during the Challenge! Even though she bikes or transits to work year round, she signed up for the Challenge as she wanted to join a team and support the initiative. She says that the Challenge made her jump on her bike, even when she was busy and had extra things to carry to work.
Recognizing our Avoiders & Reducers!
The Commuter Challenge has been designed to recognize all those people that already practice sustainable commuting – we call these people “Avoiders”. As well as those that change their behaviour over the 3-week Challenge – we call these people “Reducers”.
Support:
Please visit the GreenCare Community (BCGreenCare.ca) site for more information on how you can Clean your Commute!
We have upcoming bike maintenance workshops and bike repairs onsite, as well as a special code for health authority staff to save money, when you set-up a Car Sharing account. We hope we can support you in a cleaner / greener commute.