Campus Commuter Challenge

Syracuse University - SUNY-ESF
CAMPUS COMMUTER CHALLENGE II
October, 2008

Reducing the environmental impact of commuting to work on University Hill.

Frequently Asked Questions

Click here to download a flier (in MS Word) with answers to questions about how and why this is happening.

What are the goals of the Challenge?

For as many employees as possible to experience getting to work by some means other than driving alone.

To reduce the greenhouse gas emissions and parking congestion associated with people driving alone in cars

To spread information about alternatives to driving alone to campus

To collect information about how employees regularly travel to and from campus in order to assist with future planning for campus sustainability.

Why are these goals important?

Reducing automobile use has many benefits, including:

cutting greenhouse gas emissions

alleviating the campus parking crunch

saving money on gas

improving air quality

reducing noise and traffic

reducing our dependence on foreign oil

Alternative transportation modes also have benefits, including physical exercise, building community, reducing road rage and stress.

How does the 2008 Challenge differ from the first one in 2007?

We are working on several changes this year, thanks to input from participants last year. Most notably, off-campus students can now participate by forming teams. Also, whereas last year people only got credit for participating once during the month, this year people can get points for each time they leave the car at home. And university employees will participate as individuals this year, rather than in teams.

How does the Challenge work?

Using a simple tool, employees and off-campus students will be able to log in each time they leave the car at home (or carpool) in October. The first time you log in, the survey tool will also collect information about your regular commute (distance, number of times per week, and mode of transportation), so that we can estimate the carbon savings from the Challenge. You will receive two points each time you walk, bike, ride the bus, or carpool with two or more other people to campus, one point each time you carpool with one person or ride a motorcycle. We will work to provide tools to make sustainable commuting easier (consolidated bus routes, a ride share clearinghouse and a Guaranteed Ride Home program), and to collect employee suggestions for ways the universities can help employees make the switch to sustainable commuting.

What are the rewards?

There will be a grand prize for the top point-scorer (or a drawing in case of a tie) as well as regular drawings for prizes targeted to bicyclists, walkers, bus riders, or carpoolers. Prizes will emphasize sustainable practices, such as community-supported agriculture, tokens for farmers' markets, bicycle accessories, tickets to local events or coupons for local shops and services.

Who is organizing the Challenge?

The University Sustainability Action Coalition is taking the lead on this initiative with funding from the S.U. Vice Chancellor's office. We have borrowed the idea and most of the details shamelessly from the Ann Arbor, Michigan, Commuter Challenge. For more information contact the Office of Environment and Society.

Where else has this been tried?

There are Commuter Challenges in many cities in North America. We borrowed heavily from the Ann Arbor (Michigan) Chamber of Commerce's version. Another is sponsored by River Cities RideShare in the Austin-San Antonio region of Texas. There is a mega-version in Canada, where municipalities compete with each other. Campus commuter challenges have been underway for a few years at University of Guelph and several other Canadian universities.