The more the merrier in Commuter Challenge

September 16, 2010

After a two-year hiatus to accommodate the 2010 Winter Games, the Whistler Commuter Challenge is back on task encouraging those who work within the municipality to reduce their emissions output. Running Sept. 22 to Oct. 5, the two-week event is designed to move people towards improved sustainability during their commute to, from and within the community.

“The idea of the Challenge is to encourage people to use preferred modes of transportation and therefore reduce the number of single occupancy vehicle trips that are taken within the municipality,” said Donna Savage, Commuter Challenge coordinator.

“Almost 50 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions are caused by transportation within the municipality so we are encouraging people to look at their possibilities so that each individual can see where in fact they can car pool, where they can walk, where they can take transit, where they can ride their bike, where they can skateboard, where they can ski.”

Started in 2001, the Commuter Challenge was conceived by The Whistler Way, a transportation focus group for the Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW). To increase registrant incentive the Challenge will award prizes that include a Whistler Blackcomb Season’s Pass, an annual B.C. Transit pass and an annual family pass to Meadow Park Sports Centre. Twenty-four local businesses have provided discounts to goods and services in an online coupon book available upon registration.

Businesses that register for the Challenge will be categorized according to size and will compete for most points accrued by their individual employees for a grand total. Points are earned for the commute method chosen – four points for those who walk, run, skate, bike, bus, carpool, or double on a motorcycle; fewer points awarded for less sustainable options. Organizations within each category will receive awards and recognition for securing the highest percentage rate of participation and most percentage points. Individuals who accumulate 40 points will be entered into a draw for the prizes. Anyone who secures over 80 points will be entered twice.

“We have many people in this community who always either ride their bike or take transit so we are rewarding them as well as encouraging those other individuals who aren’t always choosing preferred methods of transportation, to increase the number of times that they do,” continued Savage.

“Behavioural change can be registered in many ways. Actions are one, of course, but even moving towards a consideration of expanding your options, to capture that change in your thought process is a first step.”

RMOW will track the changes made during the two-week period and chart them against typical greenhouse gas emission levels associated with single-occupancy vehicles in correlation to the number of registrants involved.

To register go to www.thewhistlerway.ca

To encourage behavioural change several businesses are sponsoring caffeine refuelling stations during the commuter challenge. The stations, in various neighbourhoods, are a way to say thank you to participants for walking, cycling or taking the bus. Participants should bring their confirmation e-mail registration to the stations to receive a complimentary coffee and/or treat.

Caffeine refueling stations will be at:

• Nesters Market Wednesday, Sept. 22 from 10 a.m. to noon (sponsored by Nesters)

• Home Hardware parking lot in Function Junction Thursday, Sept. 23 from 8 to 9:30 a.m. (sponsored by Pique and Delish)

• Village Square Friday, Sept. 24 from 3 to 4 p.m. (sponsored by Gone Village Eatery)

• Creekside Starbucks Monday, Sept. 27 from 9 to 10 a.m. (sponsored by Intrawest and Starbucks)

• Marketplace Blenz Thursday, Sept. 30 from 2 to 4 p.m. (sponsored by Whistler Question and Blenz)