Commuting News

National and Vermont Bike Challenge — May 1 to September 30, 2013

It's time to gear up for year two of the Vermont Bike Challenge, a partner event of the National Bike Challenge. Registration opens April 1 at WWW.NATIONALBIKECHALLENGE.ORG for this statewide event, where bike riders of all kinds log their miles, earn points, compete with friends, and enter to win great prizes!

Last year Vermont won the National Bike Challenge and University of Vermont was the top scoring employer in the state, with 83,002 points and 33,860 miles. Let's get out there and do it again this year!

The Challenge is a great way to take your riding to the next level, get back in to bicycling, or bike for the first time! Every kind of riding counts, from commuting to work a couple of times a week to doing a rail trail ride on the weekend with your kids to flying down a single track on your mountain bike.

There will be drawings every month for gift certificates from Earl's Cyclery and Fitness (http://www.earlsbikes.com/), plus a grand prize of a free bicycling vacation from Sojourn Bicycling and Active Vacations!

The Vermont Bike Challenge is co-presented by Local Motion, the Vermont Bicycle and Pedestrian Coalition, and the Green Mountain Bicycle Club. More info:

Local Motion, Jason Van Driesche, Jason@localmotion.org

CATMA@UVM.EDU, 802-656-RIDE (-7433), CATMA.org

Way To Go! Commuter Challenge — May 13 to May 17

Are you ready for a carbon throw-down?

May 13-17 is Way to Go Week, an annual event where organizations across the state compete to see who can reduce the most carbon pollution in one week.

UVM has signed up and we encourage you to participate.

Sign up now: Way To Go!

By signing up, we're eligible to win a Keurig coffee machine from Green Mountain Coffee for our company (a $450 value!). We could also win a Carbon Cup trophy–that coveted award that has graced the halls of AllEarth Renewables, Vermont Teddy Bear, NRG Systems, Dealer.com, and others.

As an individual participant, you are also entered into Wednesday raffles to win prizes like an autographed Red Sox photo of Will Middlebrooks, gym memberships, hotel stays, ski passes, transit passes, and more! All you have to do is register on line www.waytogovt.org under UVM and log your miles during the week of May 13.

We hope you'll join us, and most importantly we hope you'll have some fun.

Free Sugarbush/Mad River Glen Shuttle!

We are announcing a free Sugarbush/Mad River Glen shuttle!. Through a partnership between University of Vermont, Champlain College, and the Campus Area Transportation Management Association (CATMA), free shuttle service is now offered from UVM Patrick Gym and Champlain College Aiken Hall.

CarShare Vermont – Share with Friends Promotion

Share with Friends – Refer a friend for a chance to win an Burton Snowboard

Already a CarShare Vermont member? If you refer a campus friend (a UVM or Champlain College student, faculty, or staff) to CarShare Vermont between now and February 28th and they join CarShare Vermont, you both will be entered into a drawing to win a brand new Verdict 155 Burton Snowboard - perfect for carving the slopes in style this winter!

Just make sure to tell all of your friends to include your name on their CarShare Vermont Campus Application in the appropriate referral field, and we'll take care of the rest! See the full Share with Friends promotion details below.

• All campus friends you refer must become active CarShare Vermont members on the Share-a-Lot University Plan for you to be eligible for the promotion.
• Each person you refer needs to include your full name on their Campus Application.
• All entries must be received by Thursday, February 28th, 2013 at 5pm.
• This promotion is not valid for past referrals or applications joining existing accounts.

To learn more or take advantage of this benefit, visit www.carsharevt.org/campus-rates or call CarShare Vermont at 802-861-2340.

For information on additional transportation resources and benefits available for faculty and staff, contact CATMA at 802-656-RIDE (7433) or visit www.catmavt.org.

Related Links:

CarShare Vermont Campus Program
CATMA Commuter Programs
UVM Transportation and Parking Services

CATMA in the News!

A Burlington Free Press article by Dorothy Pellett published on November 23rd explores CATMA's services and roles: Burlington Free Press: The Complex Wommuting Web.

The article contains some results from the recent 11th Employee Transportation Survey and does a pretty good job explaining CATMA's services, its mission and its relationship to its member and founding-member organizations.

Your Input on Transportation is Important...

Help Improve the Future of Commuting Solutions and Options!:

Participate in CATMA's 11th Employee Transportation Survey.

Watch your intercampus mail for a bright orange invitation with instructions on how to participate.

Your responses to survey questions help us develop and evaluate commuting services and programs which benefit you, our institutions and the community.

You'll have a chance to win one of many prizes!!!

Questions? Contact CATMA at 656-RIDE ext 2, or catma@uvm.edu

Fun!–Local Motion Annual Party at Intervale Center
10/21 3-6pm

"We would love to have a large UVM contingent there, given the fact that UVM topped out the workplaces leaderboard!"

–Local Motion's Education and Safety Manager, Jason Van Driesche

Local Motion's Annual Meeting is now a party for its supporters (free for members, and an amazing $5 promotional price for new memberships). Scheduled October 21 from 3pm to 6pm in the Intervale Center - Farm Barn, where they'll be presenting awards for the Vermont Bike Challenge.

The event's two major sponsors for the Challenge are Earl's Cyclery and Sojourn Bicycling and Active Vacations.

Feeling dowdy and dandy? The party is also the termination of The Herringbone Tweed Ride, starting at Maglianero.

Discounted Bike & Board Helmets For Uvm And Champlain Students

One-Day Only Event -- Thursday, September 27

Specialized, Bern, and Other Top-Brand Helmets Just $10 to $25

Calling all UVM and Champlain bikers and longboarders! If the thought of cracking your skull open on the pavement doesn't appeal, now's your chance to get a great deal on some protection for your head.

For one day only, UVM and Champlain College are partnering with Local Motion, area bike and board shops, and Fletcher Allen Health Care to offer top-quality helmets at BELOW WHOLESALE: $20 to $25 for high-style Bern helmets, and just $10 to $15 for standard bike helmets. It's all happening on Thursday, September 27 from 11:30 to 3:30 in front of the Bailey-Howe Library. Student ID required. One helmet per person while supplies last.

Thanks to the generosity of Skirack, North Star Sports, and Earl's Cyclery (along with support and assistance from UVM Student Life, the UVM Office of Student and Community Relations, the UVM Police, UVM Transportation and Parking Services, and Sustain Champlain), you'll pick up a top-quality helmet for less than the cost of a pizza. Next Thursday only -- don't miss it!

After you get a helmet, stick around for a free bike safety check from the UVM Bike Users Group and the Old Spokes Home, pick up some great bike gear from participating shops, and learn about the bike scene at UVM.

Come see us Thursday, September 27 from 11:30 to 3:30, right in front of the library. Get a helmet on your head -- and keep some cash in your pocket!

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Mary Catherine Graziano
Outreach and Training Coordinator
Local Motion
1 Steele St., Burlington, VT 05401
802-861-2700 ext. 106
marycatherine@localmotion.org
http://www.localmotion.org

Two FREE Employee Bike Commuting Workshops (9/19 and 9/26):

101 Workshop: Getting into Bicycling

When: Wednesday September 19, 12:00pm - 1:00pm
Where: Chittenden Room @ University of Vermont Davis Center

Want to bike more, want to take the next step, but not sure where to start? Register for this workshop and learn about the gear you need, staying safe and comfortable, getting your bike ready to commute, map out a route and understand the rules of the road. Plus come away with FREE BIKE LIGHTS!

102 Workshop: Building Street Skills

When: Wednesday September 26, 3:30pm - 5:00pm
Where: 113A Room @ UVM Transportation & Parking Services, 38 Fletcher Place

Comfortable on your bike, but not so much with traffic? Register for this workshop and build your skills and confidence for riding on the street. Participants must bring their bike and helmet. Come away with a FREE DAY-GLO REFLECTIVE VEST!

Need a helmet? Low-cost helmets will be available for purchase at the workshops

REGISTER HERE or contact CATMA at catma@uvm.edu | 802-656-7433, ext1

116 Commuter

CCTA has a new bus route called The 116 Commuter (PDF), which serves the Route 116 corridor from Middlebury to Burlington.

Winter 2012/2013 SugarBush Service

TPS is announcing FREE bus service to SugarBush Resort this Winter for students and employees.

The service will leave from UVM Patrick Gymnasium Entrance. Dates and times are TBD.

Directions From I-89: Take Exit 14W into Burlington. Stay in far-right lane. Just past Sheraton and stop light, bear right at East Avenue/Spear Street exit, in lane for Spear Street. Take immediate left around jug handle, go through traffic light, which will take you onto Spear Street. Drive approximately 1/4 mile to Patrick Gym entrance on your right.

CCTA on Google Transit

CCTA's schedule is now reflected in Google Transit. Google transit extends the well-known Google Map route finding and directions features (potentially) across any combination of four modes of transportation: walking, biking, mass transportation, and vehicle.

Since Burlington has such a well-travelled network of pedestrian and bike routes, this set of features is bound to have a lot use for many people.