Take the Commute Solutions Challenge
by Michael Graham Richard, Gatineau, Canada on 10.12.05
Commute Solutions is "a business/government partnership that promotes a voluntary initiative striving to educate commuters in our region on the benefits of commute solutions." It is primarily addressed to Texans, but its message should be heard by everybody. The main goal is to get people to find alternatives to commuting alone in a car. If you live in Central Texas you can sign up for the Commuter Challenge and may win some prizes, but the real heart of the website is this page which contains the rules for the Challenge; Near the top there is a useful list of "commute solutions"...
Many people probably take the car, even for short distances, out of habit or lack of imagination. It might help to remind them that there are other ways to do things.
Carpools - Two or more sharing a ride in a personal vehicleVanpools - Approved employer or Capital Metro vanpool groups
Riding the Bus - Taking the busBiking - Riding a bicycle
Walking - Walking, or using a wheelchair or other handicap device to get to work
Teleworking - Working from home or a satellite office near the home
Unique Commute Solutions - Off-street, manual/electric, & sidewalk-legal means of commuting! (e.g. rollerblading/skating, skateboarding, unicycling, off-street scooters, Segways, rowing, etc.) [...]
Compressed Work Week - When an employee is off one day a week due to working longer hours on days prior (e.g. working a week of four 10-hour days with one day off). [...]
Lunch On Site - Having lunch on site, without leaving the office
Teleconference Meetings - Calling or logging into a meeting via office or home without having to commute to the meeting.
Thanks to Kari Banta for the tip on this story.
"Lunch On Site:" I had no idea that eating lunch was an amazing environmental move. I thought I was just, you know, eating. People actually drive to lunch on a regular basis?
Oh yeah. Cooking and making a lunch is out of fashion. Lots of people just go eat fast food for dinner...