Commute Green in the San Joaquin

Dates

• The Commute Green in the San Joaquin Challenge runs from July 7-11, 2008.
• Organizations that wish to participate must register by July 4, 2008.  For registration inquiries, concerns or late registration please contact Colette Feldner at (559) 230-5800 or colette.feldner@valleyair.org

Categories

• Organizations will be divided into three categories:
  • Small: 5-20 employees.
  • Medium: 21-100 employees
  • Large: More than 100 employees.
• Participating organizations will only compete with other organizations within the same category.

Team Captains

• Prior to registration, the team captain must receive authorization from their management to participate in the Commute Green in the San Joaquin Challenge and to act on behalf of their organization.
• Each team captain is to complete the registration form prior to the July 2, 2008 deadline.  They will also be responsible for completing the Participation Form for each day of the Commute Green in the San Joaquin Challenge.

Photographs

• Organizations are encouraged to take photographs of their participants and submit them to the SJVAPCD via e-mail at weberip@valleyair.org.

Eligibility

• Organizations must be located within the SJVAPCD. This includes San Joaquin County, Stanislaus County, Merced County, Fresno County, Kings County, Tulare County, and the San Joaquin Valley portion of Kern County.
• Participants in the Commute Green in the San Joaquin Challenge can only submit their points under one organization.
• All participants must be 18 years of age or older.
• All participants are required to follow California Law in regards to their method of transportation. For those riding their bikes, helmets are required.

Scoring.

• Each day of the event, the team captain will submit the number of employees that participated by using public transit, carpooling/vanpooling, and biking/walking/electric scooter for their organization.
• It is the responsibility of the team captain to keep track of participation within their organization.
• Participants must commute to work using some method of ridesharing or alternative transportation other than a single occupancy vehicle in order to be counted.
• The organization in each category with the highest cumulative percent participation for the week wins their category.
• In the event of a tie, the organization that had the greatest percentage of employees using a zero-emission alternative to commute for the week will win.
• Low-emission options, such as driving a hybrid or CNG vehicle, do not count as an alternative method unless it is being used for carpooling; the goal is to reduce the number of single occupancy vehicles.
• Being dropped off does not count unless the driver is also headed to work.

Tools

Promotional Tools

• Employee Announcement: A template of text, graphics, and links you can use in an e-mail to your employees to help them prepare to Commute Green in the San Joaquin!
• "Health Air Living Week is Coming": A template of text, graphics, and links you can use in an e-mail to remind your employees that Healthy Air Living and the Commute Green in the San Joaquin is coming!
• "Health Air Living Week is Here": A template of text, graphics, and links you can use in an e-mail to alert and remind your employees that Healthy Air Living and the Commute Green in the San Joaquin challenge is in progress!
• Commute Green in the San Joaquin Flyer/Poster: A temple document you can customize with your company name and then hand them out or post them all over the workplace to remind and encourage everyone to participate in the Commute Green in the San Joaquin Challenge.
• Commute Green in the San Joaquin Information and Rules Flyer/Poster: What it takes to win the Commute Green in the San Joaquin Challenge.
• San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District FAQ sheet: General information about the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District and our mission to promote Healthy Air Living.

Reporting Tool

• Commute Green in the San Joaquin tracking spreadsheet

Tips

Carpooling

• Give carpooling a trial run for a month. Pair with another employee and add others over time.
• Communicate with your carpool group. Let them know if you are running late and give them ample notice if you can not carpool on a particular day.
• Respect any restrictions the carpool group has set in regards to eating, smoking, drinking, or cell phone use.
• Make it a habit to be on time.

Biking

• Make sure your bike is tuned up and ready to go.
• Select a route. Many cities have bike route maps.
• Use public transportation for a break if needed.
• Wear the correct safety equipment.
• Perform a test run so you will know how long it takes to bike to work.
• Be safe and ride with a buddy.