Driving long distances alone can be tedious—not to mention expensive. In August and September, commuters will have the chance to save hundreds of dollars, experience new transportation options, meet new people, and win prizes. How? By competing in the Traffic Solutions Commute Challenge.
Commuters participating in the challenge form teams of five people. The more they take the bus, carpool, vanpool, bike, walk, skate, or telecommute instead of driving alone, the more points they earn. The teams compete to earn iPhones, iPods, movie tickets, iTunes cards, and Santa Barbara Axxess Cards.
This year, there’s also a new feature. An employer competition offers points for each time an employee logs a Commute Challenge trip. Top-performing employers can win up to $1,500 to distribute to their employees.
“We wanted to open it up to everyone in the county,” said Kent Epperson, director of Traffic Solutions, the Santa Barbara County rideshare organization.
And when Epperson said everyone, he meant it. First District County Supervisor Salud Carbajal, Santa Barbara Mayor Marty Blum, and three other prominent employers were scheduled to compete in a tricycle relay race as part of a press conference on Aug. 6 at the Santa Barbara Amtrak Station.
The press conference also marked the launch of free Internet service on the VISTA Coastal Express buses that operate between Oxnard, Ventura, Carpinteria, Santa Barbara, and Goleta.
“Commuters can now reclaim lost time and money spent commuting when they vanpool or take the Coastal Express. They can save over $5,000 a year while they catch up on e-mail or surf the net. If they use GoToMyPC, they can access their office computer and work while they commute,” Epperson said in a press release.
The Commute Challenge is part of a program called “Curb Your Commute,” which offers a selection of commuter services, resources, and incentives designed to encourage ridesharing and off-peak hour commuting on Highway 101 during the four-year 101 Milpas to Hot Springs construction project.
Getting involved in the challenge is simple. Participants can register online at www.trafficsolutions.info. Team members can use the online community calendar to track the days they use alternate transportation instead of driving alone.
The contest started on Aug. 1 and runs until Sept. 30. However, interested competitors can register any time in August or September.
Intern Kathryn Leedom compiled this week’s Community Corner. Send items for consideration to mail@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in Aug 7-14, 2008.