Monday, May 11th - 15th   

MassCommuter Challenge 

The organizers of Bay State Bike Week invite you to celebrate national Bike Month by registering for the 2009 MassCommuter Challenge. The MassCommuter Challenge is a friendly competition amongst Massachusetts businesses and institutions. Support your workplace or institutional team by pledging to bike for all or part of your regular functional trips, such as commuting to work or school or running nearby errands. If work/school seems a little farther than you're willing to pedal, those trips to your local mass transit station or boarding location count too!!   

Hop to it! It's time to pull that trusty steed out of the garage and begin incorporating a fun, healthy, non-polluting and sustainable commute into your routine! 

HOW TO PARTICIPATE IN THE MASSCOMMUTER CHALLENGE

Registration is free and open to all individuals who work or attend school in Massachusetts.  To participate, simply join your employer/school's team by selecting their name from the Employer/Institution drop down menu.  If your employer or school is not on the list, you can download the Employer/Institution Registration Form and sign them up.  And, if your employer or institution is unable to participate you can still take part by registering as an individual.  Just make sure to tell us who you work for.  For further information please contact Seaport TMA Executive Director, Lauren Grymek at Lauren.grymek@fmr.com.

HOW DO YOU WIN?

Companies compete against businesses and institutions of similar size.  Awards are granted based on: total number of participants, participation rates as a percentage of total population and collective distances bicycled during the Challenge.   The categories are:

Teams are eligible to earn additional "Bicycle-Friendly Bonus Points" by completing the Employer/Institution Registration Form and listing the bike-friendly amenities available at thier worksite or institution.  Bonus points will be added to your team's final score.     Registrants in the MassCommuter Challenge will be entered into a raffle for commuter-oriented prizes that will be awarded at the Bike Bash.  In addition, the winning Business/Institutional Teams will be presented with their awards for the different prize categories.  The Bike Bash will be on Wednesday, May 20th, 5pm-7pm, at Flat Top Johnny's, One Kendall Square, Building 200 Cambridge, MA. This event is FREE and open to participants of the MassCommuter Challenge. Secure bike parking will be available for attendants. For further information about the Bike Bash, contact CommuteWorks/MASCO Executive Director, Matt Grymek at mgrymek@masco.harvard.edu.

BENEFITS OF PARTICIPATING IN THE MASSCOMMUTER CHALLENGE 

• Employee Health: Bicycling is great exercise, PERIOD!   Employees who incorporate exercise into their work day routines are more likely to be in overall good health, have less sick leave time and report fewer workman's compensation claims.  Lower overall healthcare costs translate into employer cost savings.  
• Corporate Responsibility: Supporting bicycle commuting promotes your company's public image as a community-oriented and environmentally responsible employer. Your support says to the public that your company is concerned about air pollution, traffic congestion, energy use, public health and employee well-being.
• Cost-Efficiencies: On average, the amount of space needed to accommodate one car in a parking facility is equal to the amount of space needed to accommodate twelve bicycles. Furthermore, the cost associated with one car parking space is at least ten times the cost associated with bicycle parking infrastructure.
• Zero Pollution: The bicycle is virtually a zero-emissions form of transportation. Since short car trips (0-5 miles) generate a significant amount of pollution, employers and institutions can reduce their workplace's impact on regional air quality by encouraging commuters to incorporate bicycling into trips to work, school, errands or recreational opportunities. 
• Employee Morale: Employees who commute by bike arrive at work more alert and relaxed.  In addition, bicycle commuters recognize and appreciate the support they receive from their employer for their transportation mode.