Smart Commute
Smart Commute is a free program designed to help you reduce your carbon footprint, increase physical activity and engage in some friendly competition. Smart community saves energy, reduces traffic flow, improves air quality and makes our region a better place to walk, bike, live and breathe! Since 2009, Tri-County residents have made nearly 6,400 Smart Commutes!
Your Smart Commute Questions Answered!
Q: What is a "Smart Commute"?
A: Any trip that isn't one car with one occupant. If you walk to lunch, take the bus to class or share a ride with a friend to run errands - that's Smart Commuting!
Q: How do I track my Smart Commutes?
A: You have three easy options:
- Create a User ID on the right side of this page and then enter your Smart Commutes online.
- Keep track of your Smart Commutes on paper and send them via email to Julie Powers at jpowers155@gmail.com or call our office at (517) 292-3078 and we'll log it for you.
- Thanks to one of the "Bike Guys", you can use this simple Word document to track your commutes!
Q: I'm nervous about Smart Commuting. Any tips?
A: Sure! First of all, you are NOT alone. Once you create your User ID, we'll send you regular updates via email and if you want, you can follow us on Facebook and Twitter for other tips. Also, we can come to your office or organization and do a presentation on Smart Commuting. Just call our office and we'll help you out!
Q: What kind of trips count for Smart Commute? What kind of transportation options do I have?
A: For the 2011 Smart Commute Challenge, each round trip counts as 1 TRIP. (If you ride your bike to work and then do errands or go to the gym on the way home and then grab the bus for the last leg of the trip, count 2 TRIPS). So we're counting:
Smart Commute Trips
- Running errands
- Going to work or school
- Volunteering
- Attending festivals, events, sporting matches, concerts etc..
- Going to your faith community
- Pretty much anything, actually!
Smart Commute Transportation Options
- Walking
- Biking
- Ride Share (car, cab, van)
- Green cabs (peddle cabs or non-fossil fuel)
- Public transit
- Paddling (canoe, kayak)
Q: I'm going to a conference/on vacation during Smart Commute. Can I still participate?
A: Of course! Being out of town is a great chance to try out public transit options or share a ride with a colleague. If you're on holiday, encourage your family to walk to dinner or to the beach.
Q: I have a crazy Smart Commute question. Who should I call?
A: Call our office at (517) 292-3078. No question too crazy, no problem to large - we'll figure it out!
Walking in Our Community Series
Mid-MEAC is pleased to sponsor the Walking in Our Communities series of community walks. These walks are a great way to build community, learn about nature and get healthy exercise. A complete list of walks can be found online. A few highlights include:
- 09/10/11 (9:45am) "Live Life Inspired" Walk, Hayes Green Beach Hospital, 321 E. Harris, Charlotte, MI 48813 (met at ambulance garage in hospital parking lot). The walk is held during the fun-filled Charlotte Frontier Days and follows the parade route.
- 10/08/11 (9am) Trail Walk at Harris Nature Center, 3998 Van Atta Road, Okemos, MI (meet at the Nature Center entrance). A guided trail walk, savor the exquisite fall colors along the Red Cedar River.
- 11/12/11 (9am) "Meet New Friends" Walk at Granger Meadows Park, 1275 Granger Meadows Lane, Lansing, MI 48906. This is our first adventure in Clinton County! Come and meet new friends along the paved walkway and discover the numerous opportunities for outdoor fun.
- 12/03/11 (5:30pm - 7:30pm) "Wonderland of Lights" Walk at Potter Park Zoo, 1301 S. Pennsylvania Avenue, Lansing, MI 48912. Free admission with a donated toy for the Toys for Tots campaign. Meet at the entrance and enjoy and evening walk to see the incredible display of lights. Seasonal activities and a visit by Mr. & Mrs. Claus. Family friendly fun for all!
Smart Commute Guide to the Capital Region
View a PDF of the 2008 Smart Commute Guide to the Capital Area!
Previous Smart Commute Challenge Winners
Employees of these companies used alternative transportation to get to work as often as they could during the Smart Commute Challenge June. Travel modes included walking, bicycling, riding the bus, carpooling, telecommuting, and yes, canoeing.
Mid-Michigan Environmental Action Council has had great success with their Smart Commute program with nearly 6,400 Smart Commutes made since 2009!!
Smart Commute 2011 Winners
Mid-Michigan Environmental Action Council is pleased to announce the 2011 Smart Commute winners. MSU Libraries are the overall winners and winner of the large company division, logging 367 Smart Commutes from their team of 34. Coming in second place and winner of the small company division is Michigan Energy Options, with Becky Jo Farrington logging 276 Smart Commutes. Winner of the medium company division and fourth place overall is the Primas Civitas Foundation. Third place overall and nano winner went to Mid-Michigan Environmental Action Council with Director Julie Powers logging 74 Smart Commutes on her own.
Smart Commute 2010 Winners
Congratulations to the League of Michigan Bicyclists, MSU Bikes, Michigan Fitness Foundation, MSU Libraries and the City of Lansing for their category wins! We're so proud of the 4,347 smart commute trips made over a two week period! What a contribution to reducing carbon emissions and improving overall physcial health!
Smart Commute 2009 Winners
Mid-MEAC congratulates the 1st place winners of the 2009 Smart Commute Company Challenge: Michigan Fitness Foundation (Small Company Division) and MDEQ RRD (Large Company Division). Coming in at 2nd place were the Michigan Environmental Council (Small Company) and the MSU Library (Large Company). Third place in the Large Company Category goes to MDEQ AQD. Honorable mention goes to Jackson National Life, a first-time participant in the Smart Commute Challenge.
Smart Commute 2008 Challenge Winners
Mid-MEAC is pleased to announce the winners of this year’s Smart Commute Company Challenge, which started May 19, 2008 and ended May 31, 2008. Companies competed in different size categories, encouraging employees to use walking, bicycling, carpooling, bus, vanpool, and telecommuting rather than driving alone. A total of 1,159 trips were logged in this year’s challenge--- pretty impressive considering that most days of this year's challenge were cold and rainy!! Winners are: Old Town Auto Repair, OPLA/ Energy Office, Clean Water Action and MDEQ Land & Water Management Division.