What is the Commuter Revolution?

The Commuter Revolution is a one-month commuter challenge that dares Alexandria’s commuters to try commuting more sustainably. You’ve probably heard about weight-loss challenges or fundraising contests before.  We’re looking for committed commuters who are looking to try something new!  This brand new initiative is sponsored by the City of Alexandria’s Local Motion program and will run during April 2010.

Why try a green commute?

Whether you knew it or not, the DC has the second worst traffic congestion in the country based on fuel wasted and hours delayed.  A 2009 study cites DC commuters as experiencing an average of 62 hours a year in traffic more than their typical commute.  By encouraging commuters to rethink how they ride to work, we can band together to improve the City of Alexandria’s traffic and save our commuters money in the process.

So what exactly is a green commute?

Any time you commute to work by not driving alone, you are a green commuter.  For some that might mean carpooling but for others it means taking the bus/metro or biking to work.  One person might bike to work while another might ride with a group of people in a vanpool.  You could even pogo stick to work!  We like to call them Green Commutes because they help the environment and help you save money in the process (don’t forget that money is green too…).

What if I have never tried a green commute before?

The Commuter Revolution is designed to help Alexandria’s commuters try something new in a fun, safe environment.  If you need help planning your commute or advice on how to try your new mode, we’ll have commute advisors ready to answer your every question.  Plus, everyone participating will receive prizes for their participation and every week there will be raffles to encourage people to keep trying their green commute!

Tell me more about the prizes!

Everyone participating in the Commuter Revolution will receive a t-shirt and another gift just for signing up for the challenge!  Then each week, there will be different prizes raffled off for different values based on how many days you try a green commute.  For instance, if you take Metro for three days during the week and drive alone the other two, you’ll be entered to win a $25 prize.  Say you walk to work two days and carpool another two, you’ll be entered to win a $50 prize.  If you go for the gold and use a green mode for the whole week, you’ll be entered to win a prize worth $100!  Plus, everyone participating throughout the entire challenge will be entered to win a $500 Visa card! There will also be a lunchtime pizza party at the end for everyone who completes the challenge.

So what do I have to do to win?

In order to keep track of how everyone is commuting, challenge participants will need to log on to www.CommuterRevolution.com each night to enter how they got to and from work.  That’s it!  Each week, we’ll send you a reminder email to make sure you track your trips.  Track your trips and you’ll be entered to win our great prizes!

I think this sounds like a lot of fun.  Is there anything else I should know?

We want the Commuter Revolution to be as much fun as possible.  For that reason, we want you to engage with other participants.  We’re going to set up a Twitter page and have a blog on www.CommuterRevolution.com where you can send in your pictures and stories from your commuting adventures!  If you’re looking for a carpool partner, we can help you see if there are other people in your area commuting to a similar part of Alexandria.  Trust us, we’ve got it all figured out.

I am convinced!  How do I sign up!

To join the revolution, simply go to the top of this webpage and click on Register.  Fill out the information and wait for approval (after all, we want to make sure you are who you say you are after all!).  From there, you can start tracking your trips, commenting on blog posts and discovering other great parts of the commuter revolution.

This looks like fun but I need some more information.  Where can I get it?

Each participating company has a designated “Challenge Coordinator.”  Contact your challenge coordinator and they can answer any questions you might have.  You can also feel free to leave a comment on this page and we’ll answer it ASAP!  Want to learn more about green commutes?  Contact Sam Salkin from the Local Motion program at 202 293 1391 x304 or salkins@urbantrans.com