Conquer the Cold challenges downtown Ann Arbor workers to walk, bike or bus
It's starting to feel like a lot like winter, but that needn't keep you from taking advantage of alternative modes of transportation.
At least that's the view of the folks promoting Conquer the Cold in Ann Arbor this winter.
The idea of the promotion is to inspire employees who work in downtown Ann Arbor to take the bus or bike or walk to work even during the coldest months.
Conquer the Cold is a partnership between TheRide, the CIty of Ann Arbor, and the Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority.
Walking is a great way to get downtown, proponents of Conquer the Cold say.
"Winter is a long season in Ann Arbor, so why not enjoy it?" said Nancy Shore, manager of the local getDowntown program. "Our mission is to give people the tools and excitement to use alternative ways to get to work."
Conquer the Cold activities include winter bike commuting classes where participants can learn about about safe routes, proper clothing, and outfitting a bicycle for winter.
There will be an online commuting competition during the month of January. Participants can win badges like the "Abominable Snowman" and "WInter Dominator" if they use their alternative commuting methods on extremely cold and snowy days. The grand prize is a $500 gift certificate to Moosejaw.
Shore organizers are hoping for 100 dedicated people to sign up and additional participants for weekly competitions. Local celebrities, including chefs, engineers and law enforcement officials, will be participating.
"I think that riding in the snow can be fun," said Ann Arbor police officer Kathy Vonk. "I personally save $190 a month in gas by cycling to work instead of driving."
Shore said she considers commuting 5 miles by bike one-way to be a reasonable distance.
"Walking two miles one-way is reasonable, and people can take buses from all over the place," said Shore. "We're targeting any employee who works in downtown Ann Arbor who wants to do a winter commute."
Anyone interested in learning more is invited to stop by Sweetwaters coffee shop on these dates: Tuesday, Nov. 27, 8-11 a.m., at the 123 W. Washington location; Wednesday, Nov. 28, 8-11 a.m., at the Sweetwaters in Kerrytown; Tuesday, Dec. 4, 8-11 a.m., at the 123 W. Washington St. location; and Wednesday, Dec. 5, 8-11 a.m. at the Sweetwaters in Kerrytown.
For more information on the Conquer the Cold Challenge, check out the listing of events.
Comments
martini man
Mon, Nov 26, 2012 : 9:40 p.m.
I really like this Conquer the Cold thingy. The more liberals that walk, ride bikes, sled or skate, this winter, leaves more gas for my thirsty pickup truck. My thanks goes out to all of you for saving fuel. So try and stay warm and happy, knowing that you are saving the planet. I appreciate your sacrifice. Peace Love Dove y'all !!!
Alan Goldsmith
Mon, Nov 26, 2012 : 2 p.m.
"I could probably go on and on but I am not sure anything I can say will be satisfying to you." What is the budget for your office and this project, where does the funding come from and did you learn that PR doesn't mean insulting folks who are asking you questions?
Nancy Shore
Mon, Nov 26, 2012 : 2:28 p.m.
Alan, I'd be happy to answer your questions over email. Feel free to email me at nancy@getdowntown.org. --Nancy
Alan Goldsmith
Mon, Nov 26, 2012 : 1:57 p.m.
"Conquer the Cold is a partnership between TheRide, the CIty of Ann Arbor, and the Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority." And here I thought this was a program for helping the poor with heating bills or purchasing coats for children. No, it's all about AATA and the DDA again. Surprise.
FredMax
Mon, Nov 26, 2012 : 1:56 p.m.
Based alot of winter riding, I can tell you that ice and rubber have a near zero coefficient of friction. This comes into play when a bike tire touches on even the thinnest ice hiding on a sidewalk; you are on the ground instantly, so fast that you dont even know that you fell. I shudder to think about setting loose the uninitiated masses to experience this.
motorcycleminer
Mon, Nov 26, 2012 : 1:01 p.m.
aata ,dda ,and prince johns band of merry pranksters ..a three peat of stupid...you sure as hell won't see any of them walking . biking or taking the bus winter or summer ..." you can fool some of the people....."
RUKiddingMe
Mon, Nov 26, 2012 : 1:52 a.m.
Okay, I can see from the getDowntown website that this organization basically does nothing besides point the way to already-existing and already-advertised services/resources (carpool parking lots, zip car numbers, etc.). I also see this: "The program is funded through multiple sources including: the Federal Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Grant (CMAQ), provided by the Ann Arbor Transportation Authority, the Ann Arbor DDA, and the City of Ann Arbor." Can anyone (including getDowntown employees) specify anything this thing does that merits a separate paid organization in addition to the DDA, AATA, etc.? I'd like to see an accounting of the money going into this, especially salaries. This is the kind of drain on people's money that borders on criminal (if it's not already criminal; you guys DO know that willful misrepresentation of paid services is against the law, right?)
Nancy Shore
Mon, Nov 26, 2012 : 2:27 p.m.
RuKiddingMe, I'd be happy to answer your questions over email. Feel free to email me at nancy@getdowntown.org with your questions. Thanks! --Nancy
RUKiddingMe
Mon, Nov 26, 2012 : 2:44 a.m.
Your response is appreciated, Nancy, thought it still seems rather vague and/or redundant to "provide commuting information and services to the 1,000 plus downtown Ann Arbor organizations." The getDowntown.org website describes the same hazy notion of "connecting" people with already-existing services. Also, "processing" Go!Passes seems like something the AATA could do without a separate organization. This is just a bus pass, right? I'm also more confused about the funding issue after your response; if you are not a separate paid organization, and are in totality a subset of AATA employees, then why is funding coming from such sources as CMAQ, Ann Arbor Transportation Authority, the Ann Arbor DDA, and the City of Ann Arbor? Is this the same list that AATA gets funding from, so getDowntown lists the same sources (but also AATA)? Thanks for the offer for more budgetary info, I will email for it.
Nancy Shore
Mon, Nov 26, 2012 : 2:17 a.m.
RUKiddingMe. To answer your questions: --We administrate the go!pass program and provide commuting information and services to the 1,000 plus downtown Ann Arbor organizations. We distribute about 7,000 go!passes annually, handle all of the processing of those passes, and commute and do outreach to all employers in downtown Ann Arbor. --We also conduct the Commuter Challenge and Conquer the Cold, which both encourage employees to use alternative transportation to get to work. --Also, the type of thing we do is done by organizations all throughout the country that have vibrant downtowns. --We are not a separate paid organization. We are part of the AATA and provide our services through the AATA. -- I'd be happy to send you our budget if you want to email me about it. I could probably go on and on but I am not sure anything I can say will be satisfying to you. If anyone would like to ask me more questions about our program, please contact me at nancy@getdowntown.org or stop by our offices at 518 E. Washington so we can talk in person.
RUKiddingMe
Sun, Nov 25, 2012 : 11:20 p.m.
The GetDowntown program, if I'm reading their fb page right, is part of thee AATA. Are these volunteers? Are they paid? This whole organization seems redundant. Do they overlap with the DDA? IS there AATA budget info that itemizes the GetDowntown budget, including pay?
Nancy Shore
Mon, Nov 26, 2012 : 2:11 a.m.
Hey all, Our program is part of the AATA and we provide commuting programs and services to downtown Ann Arbor employees. We have two full time employees. We administer the go!pass program, which provides around 7,000 passes to downtown employees by working with employers, as well as do bike locker rentals, provide commuting assistance, and organize the Commuter Challenge and Conquer the Cold. There is AATA budget info that itemizes our budget and I would also be happy to send you our budget if you would like it. Just email me at nancy@getdowntown.org. And for the record, I make about $58,000, which is comparable to what other professionals in my position make. Have any other questions? Email me.
MyOpinion
Mon, Nov 26, 2012 : 1:09 a.m.
Nancy Shore, the director is paid pretty handsomely. And, she's married to the newest 5th ward council representative, Chuck Warpehoski. The DDA funds Get Downtown.
Brad
Mon, Nov 26, 2012 : 1:08 a.m.
They do receive some money from the DDA. It's just one big happy family down there on Fifth Ave.
MyOpinion
Sun, Nov 25, 2012 : 10:55 p.m.
Ann Arbor would love to have the proportion of bikers/walkers that Corvallis, Oregon does [See Tables 3 & 4 in the link below]. Or, closer to home, cities with lots of walkers are: Ithaca, Corvallis, Ames, Champaign/Urbana, Manhattan KS, etc. Ann Arbor doesn't crack the top anything. Figure 6 shows public transportation ridership (%), but that's because Figure 6 is limited to the top 50 metro areas. http://1.usa.gov/UmoAZF
Mever12
Tue, Nov 27, 2012 : 3:55 p.m.
E Claire - great question regarding biking to work! I work with Nancy and just wanted to provide some resources for you if you are looking to try biking to work :) Here is an awesome blog article Nancy put together a while back with some great resources for those looking to try biking to work - http://getdowntown.org/Blog/mid/2419/newsid2419/14376. Also, if you have a go!pass, a lot of our commuters like to put the bike on the front of the bus, and ride home. I definitely hear ya though, the bus is a great way to get around. Glad you found a commuting option that works well for you! As always, please feel free to reach out to Nancy or me at anytime if you have additional commuting related questions (info@getdowntown.org).
E Claire
Mon, Nov 26, 2012 : 8:14 p.m.
Ms Shore, how do you get to work? I'm not being snarkish or rude, I only ask because you are in a position where you can't throw on some sweatpants and go to work. Anyone who has to dress nicer for work really can't ride a bike, at least I couldn't, without working up a sweat. My clients would not appreciate sitting in an office with me after a ride from my home. Helmet hair would also be an issue. I do ride the bus and love the Gopass but I think its crazy to keep pushing for people who work in an office setting to walk or ride a bike. To quote Coach Hoke, this is Michigan for God's sake!
Nancy Shore
Mon, Nov 26, 2012 : 2:07 a.m.
MyOpinion, Thanks for your comment. What's interesting is that the amount of people who walk, bike and bus to work in downtown Ann Arbor is much higher than for Ann Arbor as a whole. Probably because of the fact that almost all buses come downtown and that many people live within walking and biking distance. Here's a link to our most recent report on this under getDowntown studies: http://getdowntown.org/AboutUs/StudiesReports
LXIX
Sun, Nov 25, 2012 : 10:40 p.m.
"I think that riding in the snow can be fun," said Ann Arbor police officer Kathy Vonk. So, they still won't allow women to join the Navy Seal program, ehh?. Good, increase the budget for five more attitudes like that and we won't have any Ann Arbor crime problem.
H.
Sun, Nov 25, 2012 : 10:07 p.m.
The Peoples Republic of Ann Arbor is at it again with the propaganda.
Homeland Conspiracy
Sun, Nov 25, 2012 : 8:09 p.m.
Ann Arbor Six square miles surrounded by reality.
Brad
Mon, Nov 26, 2012 : 1:09 a.m.
Saline is reality?
Homeland Conspiracy
Mon, Nov 26, 2012 : 12:14 a.m.
OK then 27.7 square miles surrounded by reality.
Brad
Sun, Nov 25, 2012 : 8:27 p.m.
Well, except that it's 27.7 square miles.
LXIX
Sun, Nov 25, 2012 : 7:56 p.m.
And remember kids, The Mayor, his City Council, the DDA, and the AATA all want to remind you that looking both ways before running across the street or riding your bicycle within a crosswalk is optional in this beautiful people's place. Hurray for the magic bubblestick !!! Hurray for bubbletown !!!
steven
Sun, Nov 25, 2012 : 7:29 p.m.
I love driving my car to work in the morning. I bring my breakfast and my tea with me, listen to my music, and enjoy a half hour of me time that I would never otherwise get.
steven
Mon, Nov 26, 2012 : 2 a.m.
If everyone enjoyed his commute, the workplace would be a better place.
Phillip Farber
Sun, Nov 25, 2012 : 8:02 p.m.
To each his own. I love riding my bike to work. I digest my breakfast, listen to my music and enjoy a half hour of exercise time that I would never otherwise get.
Brad
Sun, Nov 25, 2012 : 7:13 p.m.
Their list of participating "celebrities" doesn't have anyone from AATA or the DDA.
Nancy Shore
Mon, Nov 26, 2012 : 2:03 a.m.
Brad, Thanks for the comment. The getDowntown program is actually part of the AATA and we are AATA employees. But the AATA itself isn't downtown and we wanted to get celebrities who worked downtown. Good idea on the DDA. We just had so many other people on our list we didn't end up asking any of them. But as a partner with our program, the DDA is certainly very supportive. Nancy Shore, getDowntown Program Director
Ron Granger
Sun, Nov 25, 2012 : 6:58 p.m.
Those who can, do. Those who won't, complain and make excuses.
Homeland Conspiracy
Sun, Nov 25, 2012 : 8:07 p.m.
You must work in an office right by where you live or work from home
Homeland Conspiracy
Sun, Nov 25, 2012 : 5:34 p.m.
Will the bus carry all my ladders to my job? I can't ride a bike with a paint sprayer on my back & I'm sure not going to walk the 20 miles (ONE way) it takes me to get to my next job with all my paint equipment on my back...Not all of us work in an office 2 miles one way from home. Please stop targeting (pushing) your "green" agenda on us. If you REALLY want to save the earth stop having children (over population is the REAL problem, but we don't talk about that any more it's not PC) & let the earth take a breath.
LXIX
Sun, Nov 25, 2012 : 11:34 p.m.
That's just silly. How can anyone run a city without an ever-growing population? I mean, the DDA would quickly go the way of the Maytag Repairman. Or worse. Traffic would be so sparse we wouldn't need crosswalks - or even stoplights. Ahhh! The highrises would have to become high-art museums or shopping malls or disassembled and turned back into local homes or shops - lookout - the vision is escaping - like an overinflated balloon that's sprung a leak - ppfffttt!!! Its gone...
steven
Sun, Nov 25, 2012 : 7:34 p.m.
kejamder - although I agree with you that it's silly to get upset about a program that's completely voluntary and simply educates people who want to be educated about winter non-car commuting, there has never been a single instance in this country ever where expanded public transit has reduced traffic congestion or increased parking availability.
Mike58
Sun, Nov 25, 2012 : 6:52 p.m.
Why did we build that 50 million dollar parking structure again? Seems like the message is a bit muddled.
kejamder
Sun, Nov 25, 2012 : 6:44 p.m.
Relax. They're very clear about their intentions: "We're targeting any employee who works in downtown Ann Arbor who wants to do a winter commute." If you don't want to participate, don't. Nothing's being pushed on you, Conspiracy. Personally, I'm ecstatic about the reduced traffic and open parking spots this creates.
MRunner73
Sun, Nov 25, 2012 : 6:15 p.m.
Right on plus I live two miles from my office and would not walk or run to work in extreme cold, for me that is anything under 32 degrees and no snow on the ground. Check out the US 23 nd Wastenaw Ave multi use project story in today's edition as it proves your point.