Wildcat Commuter Challenge
How it works FAQ's Commuting Resources Related Events Questions/Registration
2013 marks the second year of the Wildcat Commuter Challenge, brought to you by the Sustainability Stewards. The Wildcat Commuter Challenge promotes a healthy competition by encouraging all UNH Faculty and Staff to commute to campus by bike, bus, carpool and/or on foot. The goals of the Wildcat Commuter Challenge are: to promote healthy living behaviors; to practice environmentally-friendly transportation choices; to build community; and to have fun while commuting to work!
How the Challenge Works:
- Register for the challenge! Register BEFORE the challenge starts on April 15 so that you can participate in all weeks! The first 50 people to register also get a complimentary reflective armband!
- Download the tracking sheet to make it easier to keep track of your trips. We must receive your trips via the online portal at the end of the challenge, however, it may be easier for you to write it down and enter your trips all at once.
- Start planning your trips! See the Resources section below for tips on planning out bus rides, carpooling, and biking to campus
- Contestants are scored on the percentage of their trips to work that are done by a sustainable method. Contestants should track each trip they make to and from campus, and by which method they traveled.
- Individuals with the highest percentage of commuting by a sustainable method by Friday, May 10th will be awarded a prize (stay tuned for more details). Registered participants will have until May 17th to enter in their data, and winners will be announced after that date.
Commuting Resources:
"I want to....."
Bus to work more:
- Bus schedules for Wildcat Transit and Coast Bus
- Not sure where a stop is near you? Google maps will show you a bus route if you type in your address and click the "bus" routeoption at the top.
- Not within walking distance to a Wildcat Transit stop? You can still take the bus! Many staff drive to a lot like Hannaford's in Portsmouth, or Macy's at the Newington Mall, and take the bus from there. This method would still count for the challenge sinceyou are reducing a car on campus and cutting the mileage you drive to work!
- Other places you can park and ride: Shaw's Dover, Market Basket Portsmouth, just look at the Transit routes to find where you would need to be to get you to work!
- General commuter information and commuter maps: Seacoast Area Bicycle Routes (SABR)
- UNH Cycling Team's suggested ride routes
Carpool with my coworkers:
- Ride Matching
- Carpooling
- Alternatively, you can start your own sign up sheet in your department or circulate one with colleagues you know across campus who live near you.
For the other programs offered through the Transportation office, click here. Or use the direct links below:
FAQ’s
Can I kayak, skateboard, or ride my foot-powered scooter to work?
- You certainly may – and we applaud your adventuresome, sustainable transportation choices! However, these forms of transit will not be included in the prize categories.
Is telecommuting an approved means for the Wildcat Commuter challenge?
- We applaud your decision to leave your car at home…by working from home, however telecommuting is not a means of commuter transportation and so would not be eligible for the Wildcat Commuter Challenge.
Can I ride my motorcycle, motor-powered scooter, or electric bike to work?
- We are encouraging non-motorized, or shared ride transportation in the Wildcat Commuter Challenge. Although certainly efficient and low gasoline consumers, motorcycle and motor-powered scooter rides will not be eligible means of travel to work in the Challenge. Electric Bikes are acceptable.
What if an emergency occurs during the work day and I need to get home (or to another location) and all I have is my bike/sneakers/bus pass?
- UNH transportation Services offers a Guaranteed Rides Home Program – a UNH sponsored program to ensure bike, pedestrian and bus commuters have a safe ride home (or to other locale) in an emergency.
http://www.unh.edu/transportation/programs/guaranteed.htm
Related Events:
Seacoast Bike/Walk to Work Week (BWWD) - May 13-17th
UNH's month-long challenge will coincide with the 10th annual Seacoast Bike/Walk to Work Day (BWWD) – occurring the week of May 14-18th. BWWD culminates on Friday, May 18th with complimentary Commuter Breakfasts held in towns throughout the seacoast, including at the UNH, Durham campus. A celebration and announcement of the Seacoast Bike/Walk to Work Corporate Commuter Challenge winners will be at the Jimmy LaPanza Lounge, Portsmouth Brewery on Friday, May 18th at 7:00 PM. All UNH participants involved with the Wildcat Commuter Challenge are invited to attend. For more details on the Seacoast Bike/Walk Work Week events see:
http://www.seacoastbikes.org/bwwd.cfm
