by Mike Buckthought

During Environment Week (June 3–9), over 25,500 people across Canada joined the 2012 Commuter Challenge. The annual event encourages everyone to use sustainable modes of transportation such as walking, cycling, public transit and telecommuting. By taking part in the Challenge, participants reduced greenhouse gas emissions by over 440 tonnes of carbon dioxide during the week.

In Ottawa-Gatineau, a total of 1,500 people joined the Commuter Challenge. Over 40 workplaces were represented, ranging from small non-profit organizations to large federal government departments.

The Commuter Challenge included an environment-friendly competition between workplaces, to see which organizations had the highest rates of participation.

In Ottawa-Gatineau, the winning organizations were: the Sierra Youth Coalition (80% participation; workplaces with fewer than 50 employees), CUSO International (43% participation; 50–100 employees), Mountain Equipment Co-op (39% participation; 100–150 employees), Canadian Museum of Nature (32% participation; 150–200 employees), Fairmont Château Laurier (13% participation; 200–1,000 employees), Export Development Corporation (12% participation; 1,000–2,000 employees), and Statistics Canada (16% participation; workplaces with more than 2,000 employees).

The event also included an environment-friendly competition between communities, to see which cities and towns had the highest rates of participation. Calgary was the winning community among the cities with populations greater than one million. In Calgary, a total of 6,770 people used sustainable modes of transportation such as the C-Train, cycling and walking to get to work.

Another winning city was Winnipeg (cities with a population over 500,000). For the ninth year, it was the leading city in its population category. The Province of Manitoba and City of Winnipeg have been strong supporters of the Commuter Challenge, and this has translated into high participation rates in the province. Over 5,200 Winnipeggers joined the event this year.

The other winning communities were: Halifax (population over 250,000), Kingston, Ontario (population over 100,000), Saint John, New Brunswick (population over 50,000), North Vancouver, BC (population over 25,000), Thompson, Manitoba (population over 10,000), Banff, Alberta (population over 5,000), and Wabowden, Manitoba (population under 5,000).

Commuter Challenge 2012 was organized by non-profit organizations and municipalities across the country, including the Sustainable Alberta Association, Green Action Centre, Better Environmentally Sound Transportation, Clean Nova Scotia, City of Kingston and Region of Waterloo.

To view the results of the Commuter Challenge, visit commuterchallenge.ca. The 2013 Commuter Challenge will take place during Environment Week, June 2–8, 2013.

Mike Buckthought is a car-free commuter, and founder of the Commuter Challenge.

Published in the Peace and Environment News, Volume 27, Number 3, July–August 2012, page 3.

by Mike Buckthought

During Environment Week (June 3–9), over 25 000 people joined the Commuter Challenge. Participants reduced greenhouse gas emissions by over 440 tonnes. The annual event encourages everyone to use sustainable modes of transportation such as walking, cycling, public transit and telecommuting. The Commuter Challenge includes environment-friendly competitions between communities and workplaces across Canada.

In Ottawa-Gatineau, 1 500 people joined the Commuter Challenge. Over forty workplaces were represented, including non-profit organizations, small businesses, and federal government departments. Congratulations to the winners of the Commuter Challenge, and thanks to all the participants!

Winners of the Commuter Challenge (in Ottawa-Gatineau):

• Workplaces with fewer than 50 employees:
  Sierra Youth Coalition (80% participation rate)
• Workplaces with 50–100 employees:
  Cuso International (43% participation rate)
• Workplaces with 100–150 employees:
  Mountain Equipment Co-op (39% participation rate)
• Workplaces with 150–200 employees:
  Canadian Museum of Nature (32% participation rate)
• Workplaces with 200–1 000 employees:
  Fairmont Château Laurier (13% participation rate)
• Workplaces with 1 000–2 000 employees:
  Export Development Corporation (12% participation rate)
• Workplaces with more than 2 000 employees:
  Statistics Canada (16% participation rate)

Winning communities:

• Calgary (population greater than one million)
• Winnipeg (population over 500 000)
• Halifax (population over 250 000)
• Kingston, Ontario (population over 100 000)
• Saint John, New Brunswick (population over 50 000)
• North Vancouver, British Columbia (population over 25 000)
• Thompson, Manitoba (population over 10 000)
• Banff, Alberta (population over 5 000)
• Wabowden, Manitoba (less than 5 000)

For more information, visit the web site commuterchallenge.ca.

by Mike Buckthought

On June 3–9, thousands of people across Canada will join the 2012 Commuter Challenge. The annual event encourages people to get to work using sustainable modes of transportation such as walking, cycling, public transit, car pooling and telecommuting.

To participate in the Challenge, commuters register online at www.commuterchallenge.ca and keep track of the distance they travel using environment-friendly modes of transportation. The website uses the distances you record to calculate your reductions in emissions of greenhouse gases, carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides.

If your workplace is not mentioned on the website, you can add it to the list. You don’t have to be working to join the Challenge — individuals may also register.

In 2011, over 29,000 Canadians joined the Commuter Challenge during Environment Week.

The program includes an environment-friendly competition between communities across the country, to see which towns and cities have the highest participation rates during the week.

Last year, the winning cities included Calgary (cities with a population over 1,000,000), Winnipeg (population greater than 500,000), Halifax (population over 250,000), and Guelph (population over 100,000).

Ottawa’s motor vehicles produce 1.6 million tonnes of greenhouse gases a year. Emissions from the transportation sector have increased, thanks to the presence of large numbers of SUVs. Exposure to traffic-related air pollution increases rates of asthma and other respiratory diseases.

When we walk or cycle to work instead of using a car, we can help reduce levels of toxic air pollutants and get some exercise along the way. During Environment Week, don’t pollute when you commute — join the Commuter Challenge.

For more information about participating in the Commuter Challenge, visit www.commuterchallenge.ca. Help spread the word in your community. Posters and flyers may be downloaded from the website.

Mike Buckthought is a car-free commuter, and he is the founder of the Commuter Challenge.

Published in the Peace and Environment News — Insider, Volume 27, Number 2, April–June 2012, page 4.