Our office is participating in a very cool challenge going on right now in the state.

“The Clear the Air Challenge, issued by Governor Huntsman, Mayor Becker and Mayor Corroon, is a six-week competition starting June 1st that gives you the chance to reduce your vehicle emissions by choosing alternatives to driving alone using TravelWise strategies. By driving less and driving smarter, you will ultimately help improve air quality, reduce traffic congestion and conserve energy in Utah. You will also be eligible for weekly and grand prize drawings by meeting straightforward, achievable travel goals”.

You can get more information and register as an individual or team here: http://cleartheairchallenge.org/index.php.  Four of the people from our office (half of us) are participating, logging our trips and miles saved each day.  It’s been a good reminder to find ways to consolidate or eliminate trips, or to make a sincere effort to choose better ways of getting around.  I usually try to bike or ride the bus to work once a week, and since I only work four days a week, that is just 3 days of commuting.  I used to think that was doing a pretty good job, but I am going to try to do even better now.  This week I’m going to try biking 3 days (I have 2 under my belt already).  I love it because I get my workout in for the day (the trip is 9.1 miles each way), I get to interact with other people on the way to work, and I get to experience sights and smells like I just can’t in my car.  I am much more keenly aware of what is in bloom in a particular day, I get to smell everyone’s delicious dinners on the way home (inspiring me to ride faster and get home to eat sooner), and I get to see so much more detail than I can capture during a car ride.  Plus, I get to determine my pace – it isn’t set by the speed limit and enforced by someone tailgating me.

I doubt that we’ll win any prizes, but it has been a fun personal and group challenge for us.  I love the idea of it, and I hope more states are doing something similar.