The Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority hosts the getDowntown Program – a great tool for downtown employees to consider commuting alternatives. They put out a monthly Commuter Connection E-Newsletter. Here are a few of the November highlights:
Vanpooling – For people who live too far away to bus, bike or walk, vanpooling offers an alternative for reduced commuting stress and cheaper gas and parking costs. MichiVan runs the commuter vanpool program for the state of Michigan.
AATA unveils its new hybrid buses. TheRide is replacing 15 buses in October 2007. Over the long term, all of its 69 buses will be replaced with hybrid electric buses. Win an iPhone in the contest to name the bug!
First Commuter-Friendly Business Award – getDowntown awarded Pure Visibility as one of the top downtown businesses that are doing what they can to encourage their employees to bike, bus, walk, carpool, etc. to work because:
- They actually have two company cars that their employees can use during the day so they don’t have to drive to work. This has been a great way to encourage employees to take the bus and walk because they know they have a guaranteed ride when they need one.
- They are avid go!pass users. Especially Ed Vielmetti, local blogger extraordinaire, who sang the praises of the AATA’s RideTrak software, which allows him to know exactly when a bus will be at his stop, so he doesn’t’ have to wait in the cold.
- Manager Catherine Juon encourages her employees to choose alternatives to driving in their cars alone. As a result of management support, many employees walk, bike and bus because they want to and see the benefits of their choice.
Commute Chat – Learn what’s new, voice your views, eat lunch at this new event for employers, HR staff, owners, managers and others responsible for parking, go!passes, etc. at their business. Commute Chat is a place where you can come to learn about commuting options, share your thoughts, and network with others dealing with the same issues. Starting December 4 at 12noon. See the getDowntown website for details.
"The getDowntown Program is your Commuter Choice Consultant." For more information on any of this, contact Nancy Shore.