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Victor Maccharoli- Teams race in Surreys along Cota Tuesday during this year's Commuter Challenge kick-off event.

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Registration opens for Commuter Challenge

By ERIC LINDBERG — April 1, 2009

And the race is on.

Registration is now open for this year’s Commuter Challenge, a competition that pits teams of five against each other in the months of May and June to find ways to get to work without driving alone.

Teams earn points and prizes each time they take the bus, train, carpool, vanpool, bike, walk, skate or otherwise transport themselves to the workplace while avoiding the single-occupant vehicle commute.

“In these tight economic times, we need all the fun we can get,” said Kent Epperson, director of Traffic Solutions, which is putting on the competition.

Incentives include a weekly raffle for iPod Shuffles and a monthly raffle for an iPhone. The top 101 teams will be rewarded with bike shop certificates, movie tickets and cash.

The challenge is part of a package of commuter services, resources and incentives designed to lessen traffic along Highway 101 during the four-year Milpas to Hot Springs construction project. More information, including registration instructions, is available at www.trafficsolutions.info or by calling 963-SAVE.

During a kick-off event yesterday afternoon at the Santa Barbara Farmer’s Market, the top five employers faced off in a surrey race. The city of Santa Barbara beat the county of Santa Barbara in the large employer category last year, setting up a grudge match between the two rivals.

The county’s team, led by Supervisor Salud Carbajal, took an early lead over city leaders led by Mayor Marty Blum, despite starting in the rear of the field. But county officials faltered down the stretch and the city put another notch in the win column versus the county.

Carbajal cried foul following the race, holding up a broken pedal that fell off his team’s surrey and claiming sabotage. Yardi Systems avoided the controversy by jumping out to a quick lead over the rest of the field and sailed to an easy win.

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Carbon Footprint : 4/1/2009

What a fun way to reduce green house gas emissions!

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