BRATTLEBORO — Registration has begun for the Brattleboro Way To Go! Fall Commuter Challenge, to be held Oct. 3-7. This event encourages the use of healthier, more earth-friendly transportation, and less expensive alternatives to driving alone.
The Fall Challenge is open to anyone who lives or works in the town of Brattleboro. Participants who pledge to walk, bike, telecommute, carpool, take the bus or use any alternative to driving solo at least one day during the week will be eligible to win great prizes from area businesses and farms. Online registration is fast and easy at www.waytogovt.org. You can register even if you already use commuting options other than a personal vehicle.
This is the first “local” Way To Go! Commuter Challenge, and the first to be held in the fall. It is being held the same week that International Walk to School Day occurs, which is Wednesday, Oct. 5. For the sixth year in a row, the Green Street School community will participate. On International Walk to School Day an estimated 4 million children, parents and teachers from all 50 states and 45 countries will walk or bicycle to school. For more information go to http://www.walktoschool.org.
The Fall Challenge is sponsored by the Brattleboro Energy Committee and the Way To Go Roundtable, a group of businesses and transportation providers dedicated to promoting transportation alternatives in the Brattleboro area.
Roundtable members include World Learning, Brattleboro Memorial Hospital, Landmark College, Town of Brattleboro, Windham Southeast Supervisory Union, Omega Optical, New Chapter, Entergy, Brattleboro Food Co-op, Marlboro College Graduate Center, Connecticut River Transit, and the Windham Regional Commission.
In light of the recent road and bridge damage due to flooding, this is an especially opportune time to carpool or take public transportation to decrease traffic on the fragile infrastructure in some areas. If you are able to walk or bike, take extra care not to use roads that are closed.
In this year's statewide Way To Go! Challenge, held May 16-20, more than 3,200 Way to Go! participants saved an estimated 406,000 commuting miles, 350,000 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions, and more than $91,000 in transportation expenses. 144 Brattleboro residents participated, saving 7,600 miles and 6,050 pounds of emissions. Organizers are aiming for at least 200 Brattleboro residents to sign up for the Fall Challenge.
“This is great opportunity for folks to explore a new way to commute to work, school or anywhere else they might usually drive,” said Paul Cameron, Director of Brattleboro Climate Protection, one of the event's organizers.
The week-long event is designed to be easy and fun and encourages everyone to try an alternative way than driving alone every day.
For more information on ridesharing and commuting, also visit the GoVermont website: www.connectingcommuters.org.