Two Mile Challenge

[Melalvai]

We are planning a Two Mile Challenge for October. A two-mile-challenge is here you leave the car at home for some, most, or all of the short trips. Only because 2 miles isn't a challenge at all for many people, or much too great a challenge for many, it's actually "create your own challenge". There are 3 rules. The first rule is we don't talk about...er, wrong game. Sorry.

The rules:
1. Your challenge must feature active transportation.
2. Your challenge must be a challenge for you. It might be a One Mile Challenge or it might be a No Car Diet.
3. You have to write about your experiences on our blog at least once a week.

I'm hoping for 10-20 participants, but just talking about it informally I've already got several people committed to doing it. We'll have a party at the end. I'm getting business to donate coupons etc for participant packets, and I hope to acquire some prizes. I want to give out prizes for most miles biked, most miles walked, most extreme, most dramatic change, etc. Basically I want everyone to get a prize and a packet. The new orthopaedic surgeon has been giving out metal water bottles with him name on them like candy at races, and when I asked him if he'd supply them to our participant packets he not only agreed instantly but also said he wants to do the 2 mile challenge.

We're going to offer social rides/ guided rides/ walks to give people opportunities to achieve their goals. The other LCI and I are going to teach Traffic Skills 101 the last Saturday in September. I'm going to ask the Bike Co-op and the 2 "real" mechanics in town to do some tune-ups. We'll offer a consultation before it starts to help people design their challenge and figure out their obstacles, like transporting kids, looking & smelling nice when they get to work, or they live 30 miles away (no public transit around here).

I'm super excited about this. I don't yet know what my challenge will be. I'm thinking a no-car diet, depending on what my daughter has going on that month.

It'll probably have a different name. I'm just calling it "Two Mile Challenge" until we figure out what to call it. Several of the doctors in town are exercise enthusiasts, and are good sponsors of race events. They might want to sponsor some of the prizes and we could call it the Physician's Challenge. (Ideas welcome!)

[Tri Girl]

I'll join you virtually! Hopefully it cools down a little by October.
I love the idea and commend you for starting it! Way to go!
How will you keep track of accountability? Do people have to check in weekly or just keep track for the month? Will prizes be determined by random drawing?

[TsPoet]

Yes, are you looking for locals, or can we join virtually? My plans to commute this year were derailed by road construction, and now i'm getting over pneumonia.
I know October is a long way away, but I've been so sick for so long that it might be great to really go for something hard in October - commuting 4 days/wk would be a good challenge for me.
Oh - and using the bike for 50% of all of my shopping - that would be huge challenge for me, if it counts.

[Possegal]

I too would be interested in virtually joining in. I keep telling myself - tomorrow you have to start riding the bike to work at least 2-3 days a week. Then tomorrow comes and goes and I don't do it. Yet again, I'm telling myself that tonight. We'll see what happens come tomorrow. I'd like to get myself riding to do my grocery shopping as well, at least part of the time.

[Catrin]

This got me to thinking...but work is 23 miles one way, the grocery store is 12...I moved where I did to have easy riding access to my country roads but it has me so far from everything else. This means the only short trips are to put gas in my car

Still, I would like to at least attempt a bike commute to work this year, late October might be a fine time for that...You got me to thinking about it at least, though you probably aren't looking for participants in Indiana

[TsPoet]

This got me to thinking...but work is 23 miles one way, the grocery store is 12...I moved where I did to have easy riding access to my country roads but it has me so far from everything else. This means the only short trips are to put gas in my car

Still, I would like to at least attempt a bike commute to work this year, late October might be a fine time for that...You got me to thinking about it at least, though you probably aren't looking for participants in Indiana

Is there a park-n-ride lot somewhere? I know many people who drive 1/2 way and ride the rest. My commute is 13 miles 1-way, that is quite doable and takes slow me 1 hr. Just an idea.

[Melalvai]

Maybe we could do a simultaneous 2-mile challenge here at TE. The one I'm planning is restricted to locals as far as the participant packets & prizes. But here at TE we already have a forum, we just start a new thread in October, and we don't need prizes etc.

And the TE community is better qualified for "consultations" than any one member!

Catrin, a 23 mile commute would be super impressive! Or you could consider alternatives. Drive halfway (or more) and bike the rest, leaving your car in a church or business parking lot (with permission). Or drive one way, bike home, bike in the next way, drive home.