Over 600 People Log Trips in 2026 Commuter Challenge

ANN ARBOR, MI – The getDowntown Program, along with the Ann Arbor Area Transportation Authority (TheRide), is pleased to announce that 609 people reported using green transportation for 11,570 commutes during this year’s Commuter Challenge, which ran from May 1 – May 31. The challenge inspired commuters travelling to and within the Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti areas for work to choose sustainable transportation options, such as walking, biking, carpooling, or taking the bus.

“At a time when gas prices are on the rise, commuters found they benefit financially, as well as environmentally, when choosing sustainable transportation,” said Lilliane Webb, getDowntown Program Director. “Participants in this year’s Challenge avoided purchasing an estimated 4,678 gallons of gas and more than 45 tons of CO₂ that could have been products of their May commutes.” According to the US EPA’s Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies calculator, the amount of CO₂ the 2026 Commuter Challenge avoided is nearly equivalent to 10 gas-powered vehicles driven for a year.

Webb also thanked all the local businesses that contributed prizes or otherwise supported the Challenge. Twenty individuals won prizes from area restaurants and shops by logging commutes and engaging in social media contests, and all participants earned a free scoop of ice cream from Washtenaw Dairy when they logged their first commute.
In addition to the individual prizes, dozens of local workplace teams competed in four size categories to record the highest percentage of employees logging a sustainable commute. Celebratory lunches catered by Sweetgreen were awarded to top teams. The winning 2026 Commuter Challenge workplace teams are:

• 2-20 employees: University of Michigan ADVANCE Program
• 21-49 employees: Workantile
• 50-100 employees: Atomic Object
• 101+ employees: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Community members are invited to keep logging their commutes throughout the year at win.getDowntown.org and to be on the lookout for future challenges from the getDowntown Program.

The Commuter Challenge is organized by the Ann Arbor Area Transportation Authority (TheRide) and the getDowntown Program in partnership with the Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority and the City of Ann Arbor. For up-to-date information on this and other benefits of commuting by alternative modes of transportation, visit getDowntown.org.

The getDowntown Program provides commuting programs and services to downtown Ann Arbor employees and employers. A program of The Ann Arbor Area Transportation Authority (TheRide), getDowntown’s partners include the Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority and the City of Ann Arbor. Programs and services include commuting information and resources to downtown employees, consulting organizations on designing their employee transportation benefit programs, the go!pass program, and events like Conquer the Cold and the Commuter Challenge.