Two Mile Challenge

[Melalvai]

I was actually wondering how you were going to do it, because I thought that might be something fun to do at my work (stealing your idea and all). I like the idea. My bike to work challenge in May didn't go over too well. I'm not done trying to get my lazy co-workers to get off their duffs and move!

This certainly is not an original idea, I'm stealing it from several places. I don't know where I heard of it first. Clif Bars is doing a Two Mile Challenge and I think August is the last month of it.

So feel free to steal anything you like.

A cliche I keep hearing when people talk about bike/ped is "low hanging fruit". I'm starting to hate the term but there is something to the concept. Instead of going after your lazy and resistant co-workers, you go after people who are already doing it or on the verge of doing it, who don't need much incentive or prodding to try it (or increase what they are already doing). Get experience, build momentum, then go after the more difficult tasks.

I was thinking we could maybe pair up with 'real' people in the challenge. Then if my partner got a prize, I'd go buy myself something

I like that! Pairing you all up with people in Kirksville, MO will help them feel motivated, it will be kind of a buddy-system, an extra resource for them. That's awesome! When we get a bit closer to October, I'll have people pm me if they want to be a buddy to one of our commuters. (And you can feel free to buy yourself something to celebrate your buddy's success, or console yourself on his/her failure, TriGirl! lol)

We can definitely start a two-mile challenge of our own long before October. The reason I picked October is because it is further away than September. (August is still too hot for most people here.) When I did the No Car Diet in 2007, it was in September. Once during that month I rode 25 miles one-way to go for a 20 mile bike ride. And then 25 miles home. A 70 mile day so I could ride 20 miles with friends! It was beautiful weather all month.

Deborajen, I like the substitution thing, and teams. I'll keep it in mind for future events--I want to keep it simple this year. Or, the team concept is definitely something we could do here on TE. And Possegal could send the winning team a bit of schwag!

I'm continually amazed at how many great ideas people come up with, every time I talk about this project. So fun!

[Thorn]

It was the Clif 2 mile challenge a while back that got me thinking. I rode for fun, not utility. But, the concept kept nagging at me.

It took me a while before I put the idea into practice, picking up more and more trips by bike....the dentist, the farmer's market, the grocery. And then I changed jobs and started commuting.

Now most days my car is a $25K helmet shelf. It goes for a drive every 2 or 3 weeks while my bikes get 200 miles/week (150ish utility miles and 50ish miles of fun). I'm in better shape that ever and stress is way down.

I love the idea of your challenge and applaud your starting this. A challenge would have been that kick that got me started sooner. That said, our Bike Fed is running a summer time challenge. The goal is 1 million utility miles during the summer months. While I participate, I'm already in the converted....that doesn't mean I don't look forward to see whether I won anything in each month's drawings For ideas ( http://www.endomondo.com/campaign/wi# ) [Note: endomondo is a *terrible* site, but the idea is sound]

[Possegal]

And Possegal could send the winning team a bit of schwag!

Absolutely!

[bluejellybean]

count me in as a virtual participant too!

[Groundhog]

count me in as a virtual participant too!

Mee too!

[Trek420]

Those of you in the CA Bay area can also compete in this challenge:

https://www.ridematch.511.org/SanFra...ient=greatrace

[Slowspoke]

I'd be in for the virtual challenge. Work is 25 expressway miles from home, but I could commit to doing all my shopping by bike. I like the idea of driving in part way. I may be able to stash my car 5 miles out and bike in. I'll have to investigate that!

[Melalvai]

As I've been talking about it around town, the idea of driving most of the way and walking the last mile, or driving to work but walking for all errands, appeals to a lot of people. They say "I walk a lot of places downtown during the day anyway" and I explain "It has to be a challenge for YOU, something just a little bit beyond what you normally do--like walking no matter the weather, all month long".

I'm not yet sure what my own challenge will be, possibly a car free month, but I'm more excited about everyone else's challenges, and working on acquiring the incentives & prizes, which is going well.

At the same time I'm helping with the fundraiser for the new trail and that is AMAZING. One of the steering committee was about to ask a donor for $100 and the donor jumped in with $10,000!!! (It was an inheritance he'd already decided to donate to something, so it was really really good timing!)