We all know that here in Montana we spend a whole lot of time driving. With our expansive state and our wide open spaces, being able to jump in the car and go to the lake or the mountains is one of the perks we enjoy about living in our beautiful Big Sky Country; but…did you know that with a vehicle that gets approximately 23 miles to the gallon, and with only a ten mile commute to work five days a week, it will cost you over $4000 a year to drive that car? That does not include any sightseeing or fishing expeditions outside of the city proper that you live in. Seems outrageous doesn’t it? There are many options to saving precious resources and money by using alternative means of transportation. May is National Bike Month, so this would be a great time to start a new way of thinking about how you get from A to B, to make some changes to your same old motor routine, and perhaps get healthier in the process.

Take the Bozeman Commuter Challenge May 6th – 15th! This competition is a friendly challenge between area businesses to reward employees who choose walking, biking, taking the bus, or carpooling to work. First introduced as a ‘Bike to Work Challenge’ in 2012, the Challenge has now expanded to include other sustainable and cost saving modes of transportation. As part of National ‘Bike to Work Month’ and Community Action Month; Bozeman’s Human Resources Development Council, the Western Transportation Institute and the Bozeman Area Bicycle Advisory Board are promoting the Challenge, and challenging you to think outside the single car driver routine. Be one of the first 50 to sign up for the Challenge and receive a $5 Ale Works gift card.

This is how it works.

Recruit co workers to create a team of two or more that all commute to the same work place each day. Challenge other friends and co workers to create teams of their own. The more teams, the more challenging!
Nominate a team captain and have them contact Rebecca at 406.994.6541 or Rebecca.gleason@coe.montana.edu to come up with a team name and to get access to site administration privileges. Captains will give the information on the total number of employees within their organization or department.

Team captains will then encourage their colleagues to register, choosing their team name as their employer on www.ridesharemt.com and log their trips to work from Monday, May 6th through Wednesday, May 15th using the site’s commute calendar (on my page/commute calendar). Note: all team names will begin with 2013Challenge on the site.

Anyone on a team who logs at least one bike/walk/bus/carpool commute from May 6-15 will have their name entered into a raffle to win prizes.
Certificates will be awarded to teams showing, 1) total miles logged by sustainable modes and, 2) percent employee participation at the May 17th Bike Week Celebration at Lindley Park Center from 5-8pm.

Please contact Rebecca Gleason at Rebecca.gleason@coe.montana.edu or 406.994.6541 with any additional questions.
From 7-9am during the week of May 13th-17th, there will be free coffee and refreshments for cycling commuters at these various Bozeman locations.

Monday May 13th – Rockford Coffee (Corner of Rouse and Main) Team Rockford. Light bike repairs by Owenhouse Bicycling and Fitness.
Tuesday, May 14th – The Daily Coffee Bar and Bakery (Rouse and Oak) MSU Cycling Team.
Wednesday, May 15th – Costco (2505 Catron St. off N. 19th) Refreshments by New Day Bakery and Ghost Town Roasting/Master’s Velo.
Thursday, May 16th (there are two stops) – Sola Café (E. Kagy and Willson) Gallatin Alpine Sports. Also, bike to The Community Café (302 N. 7th – the old Frontier Pies).
Friday, May 17th – Off the Eaten Path (1532 Ellis St. off Highland) AND the Community Food Coop (908 W. Main) by Bozeman Bike Kitchen.

So, what if you are self employed, a stay at home mom or a student that does not have an organization that can form teams for this Challenge? Do not fret; there are other ways that you too, can participate in May’s Bike Month. May 13th-17th is Bike to Work Week and each day there is something for everyone to be able to create your own personal challenge. In addition, Wednesday, May 8th is Bike to School Day. Why not make it a family outing and ride your bike in the morning to take the kids to school instead of loading them all into your car and wasting all that gas? It can be a great way to spend quality time together in the outdoors while promoting clean air and health all at the same time! Here are a few more events to consider.

Tuesday, May 14th is the Summit Bike and Ski, free basic tune-up and maintenance Clinic at 7:00pm.
Wednesday, May 15th REI features bike maintenance, giveaways and food by Baja Fresh from 4-7pm.
On Friday, May 17th, the celebration will culminate in the ‘Bike to Work Party’ held at Lindley Park Center. There will be raffles, dinner, a keg and live music by Jawbone Railroad from 5-8pm. Come one and all and bring the kids and family! It will be great fun and a way to celebrate your sustainable transportation accomplishments!

Remember to support Bozeman’s bike shops : Alter-Cycles, Bangtail Bikes, Bozeman Bike Peddler, Chalet Sports, Owenhouse Bicycle and Fitness, REI, Round House Sports and Summit Bike and Ski. Remember also that even if you are not participating in this month’s bike to work challenges you can still participate by always being on the lookout for cyclists and pedestrians. Drive safe; give it that second and third look before you pull out. Responsibility while driving is a must to keep us all safe in whatever mode of transportation we choose. We must share the road and look out for each other. Safety is key. Be safe out there and stay active!

For more information, including the commute cost calculator and additional transit options around the state, please visit www.ridesharemt.com.

Stacey Faldetta is a freelance writer currently living in MT with her four children. She is working on her first book of compiled poetry called ‘A Thousand Little Sparks’ and enjoys travelling extensively around our breath taking state enjoying all that the Big Sky Country has to offer. She can be reached at mtcinnamon73@gmail.com