What: UM Bike to Work Day pit stops
When: Monday, June 6, 6:30 – 9 AM
Where: Fort Garry campus: Curry Place @ Sidney Smith
               Bannatyne campus: Pearl St @ McDermot Ave

With new city bike routes leading to both Fort Garry and Bannatyne campuses, UM is accessible almost entirely by bike trails from many parts of Winnipeg. Play “ride and go seek” by visiting eight pit stops to be entered to win additional prizes. Find a map of all Bike to Work Day pit stops on the Bike to Work Day website.

Ready to save even more money on gas? Register for the Commuter Challenge, June 5-11 to put more money back in your pocket. During the Challenge, try your best to carpool, bus, walk, wheel, bike, rollerblade or work from home for a healthier commute and a chance to win great local prizes coordinated by Green Action Centre.

What: Commuter Challenge
When: June 5 – 11
Where: Register online today

Need help finding a bike route to campus? Contact the Office of Sustainability to get personalized route tips and bike maps.

Looking for a carpooling or cycling partner? Match with a commuter in your area through GoManitoba.

This year, 19,000 Canadians took part in the Commuter Challenge, collectively avoiding 245 tonnes of CO₂ emissions by choosing sustainable transportation options.

At U of M, Commuter Challenge events were held throughout the week. The Office of Sustainability and UMCycle successfully delivered more than 150 bike-blended smoothies to participants on Fort Garry and Bannatyne campuses.

Provincially, the Commuter Challenge is coordinated by Green Action Centre. Grand prizes for the event include a free transit pass for a year, a $500 Via Rail voucher, two weekend passes to the Winnipeg Folk Festival, and more. All prize winners will be notified after Friday, June 16.

The Office of Sustainability tabulated the results of the U of M’s first friendly inter-department competition. Drum roll please…the winners are:

Ice-cream sandwiches for the office:

• 1st place – International Center
• 2nd place – Campus Planning Office
• 3rd place – Health Science Library

4-month memberships to Recreation Services facilities, valued at $210 each (staff/faculty only):

• Tania Gottschalk – Health Science Library
• Marian Siemens – Student Affairs

Bike tune-up from UMCycle, valued at $75 (staff/faculty only):

• Sylvia Lapointe – Biological Services

University of Manitoba T-shirt

• Janice Bailey – Active Living

Office of Sustainability travel mugs

• Jim Young – Computer Science
• Maria Dielmann – Career Services
• Helen Liu – Agriculture
• Sarah Hiebert – Student Affairs
• Rita Courchaine – Education

If you are looking for another reason to dust off your bike this summer, participate in Bike to Work Day on Friday, June 23.

Ride to any of the more than 50 pit stops in Winnipeg on your way to work or school, including the University of Manitoba’s Fort Garry pit stop at UMCycle, located at Curry Place and Sidney Smith Street, and the Bannatyne campus pit stop at Brodie Centre.

Arrive between 6:30 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. to enjoy music, refreshments and prizes.

Stay up to date on events, share your photos and join the conversation on Twitter and Instagram with #UMSustainability.

In 2016, 365 University of Manitoba staff and students participated in the challenge, travelling more than 31,000 km and avoiding 5.4 tons of greenhouse gas emissions. 

Register today and encourage your friends and co-workers to get involved. Commuters will be entered to win prizes and are invited to join the Office of Sustainability at fun events throughout the week.

If you already walk, bike, carpool or take the bus to campus, you can still sign up to see the impact you’re making.

Prizes

All University of Manitoba staff and students who register and participate in Commuter Challenge will be entered to win prizes from Green Action Centre, including a $500 VIA Rail Train Voucher, weekend passes to Winnipeg Folk Festival and many more. Plus, there are prizes exclusively for U of M participants.

University of Manitoba prizes

• 2 x 4-month memberships to Recreation Services facilities, valued at $210 each (staff/faculty only)
• Bike tune-up from UMCycle, valued at $75 (staff/faculty only)
• Refurbished bike from UMCycle (students only)
• Bike tune-up from UMCycle valued at $75, plus 1 x 50% off merchandise coupon (students only, some restrictions apply)
• $20 gift certificate for Degrees (students only)
• $20 gift certificate for the HUB (students only)
• UM student locker and towel service for 1-term, valued at $75 (students only)
• University of Manitoba t-shirt
• 5 Office of Sustainability travel mugs

Prize selection is by random draw. With the exception of the Early Bird Prize, only participants who have registered and logged Commuter Challenge Week trips by Friday, June 15 will be eligible to win prizes.

Refreshing drink giveaways

Register for Commuter Challenge and enjoy a bike-blended smoothie.

Monday, June 5 | 8-9:30 a.m.
Curry Place @ Sidney Smith (Fort Garry campus – location 1 on map)

Wednesday, June 7 | 8-9:30 a.m.
Brodie Centre Entrance (Bannatyne campus)

Thursday, June 8 | 8-9:30 a.m.
Dafoe Rd @ Gillson St (Fort Garry campus – location 3 on map)

Find your ideal commute

Explore your transportation options to U of M campuses. Learn how and where to lock your bike, find convenient park & ride locations and discover carpool only parking spaces.  

With the hope of getting more commuters involved, University of Manitoba staff and faculty share some of their commuting advice.

Laura Loewen, associate professor, faculty of music

Commutes by: Bike
Commutes from: River Heights
Commute distance: 12 km

Advice: “Life is so much better without daily use of the car – I can read or daydream on the bus, and love the exercise and fresh air I get on my bike. My basic stress level is much lower because of active transportation, and I find that I am more calm and able to problem-solve in a more creative way on the days I use my bike.”

Randall Kinley, office & building manager, St. Paul’s College

Commutes by: Bike
Commutes from: Lindenwoods
Distance: 9km

Advice: “Cycling is a great way to start the morning and end the work day. Any stress from the day is gone by the time you have ridden home. Buy a gym pass so you can take a shower and not offend your colleagues. Bring a change of clothes and leave it in your office or locker so that you don’t have to carry your wardrobe with you every day.”

Jack Rach, web and new media coordinator, marketing communications office

Commutes by: Bike/Carpool
Commutes from: River Heights
Distance: 10km

Advice: “First, try riding your bike. It’s a lot easier and safer than most people think. Second, with the number of people coming to campus there is bound to be someone in your area driving this way too. Make the most of it and enjoy some company as you get to campus.

Cameron Neufeld, manager, parking and transportation demand management, parking services

Commutes by: Run
Commutes From: St. James
Commute Distance: 10 miles

Advice: “I started running to work while training for the half marathon in 2013 and I was finding it difficult to fit the long runs into my schedule. Initially it seemed like a daunting task, but I found it really rewarding. I thought it might tire me out too much, but I actually find it has the reverse effect and it gives me an energy boost for the day.”

Anita Ens, education specialist, department of medical education

Commutes by: Bike
Distance: 3.5km

Advice: “If you’re biking and don’t feel comfortable on city streets, find someone who is experienced and confident and ask to ride behind him or her. You can watch how to navigate tricky surfaces, unpleasant motorists, or lights.”

Gary Anderson, associate professor, department of biological sciences

Commutes by: Bus
Commutes from: Fort Garry
Distance: 8km

Advice: “Although my route is relatively short I do read on the way to work. So take a book and read. I regularly read scientific papers on the bus.”

The University of Manitoba is participating in the event once again and asks faculty and staff to join. New this year, students can also take part in the sustainable effort. To get started, register via the Commuter Challenge website:

• Faculty and Staff
• Students

By registering participants will have a chance to win some exciting prizes from the Green Action Centre. U of M participants will also have the opportunity to win exciting prizes through the Office of Sustainability by interacting with them through Facebook and Twitter. Prizes include:

• Gym membership & 12-week program pass from Recreation Services
• Gift certificates and reusable mugs from Degrees
• Lunch for four at St. Andrew’s College
• UofM t-shirt from the BookStore
• Fair trade goodie basket and Food Bucks from U of M Food Service

Higher participation rates will also help the U of M in the regional competition. Whether you take the bus regularly or plan to ride your bike to campus for the first time ever, you qualify as a Commuter Challenge participant. Register for the Challenge and be counted – the greater number of U of M community members that participate, the better the chances the U of M has at winning.

Keep active this summer with Sneakers in Motion day on June 20 and Bike to Work Day on June 21.

For more information, tips, and resources follow @SustainableUofM and @UMoutstanding on Twitter.

This article first appeared in the June 6, 2013 edition of The Bulletin.