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GREEN COMMUTE CHALLENGE
Frequently Asked Questions

If you don't see the answer to your question here, e-mail us or call 816/842-RIDE (7433).

What is the Green Commute Challenge?
How do I sign up for the Green Commute Challenge?
Can I sign up for the challenge if my employer isn't registered with Carpool Connection?
How do I earn points?
How do I use the Commute Tracker calendar?
How do I log multimodal trips?
How do I report staying in for lunch?
I don’t want to carpool. How can I make sure I don’t show up on someone’s match list?
Will I get more points if I go back to previous months and log trips?
I always forget to log my trips. Is there a way to get a reminder?
Can hybrid vehicle, scooter or motorcycle trips be counted in the challenge?
How will I know if I won a prize?

What is the Green Commute Challenge?

The Green Commute Challenge is intended to take vehicles off the road during peak commute times by encouraging the use of alternatives to driving alone — carpooling, bus, bicycling, walking and telecommuting. It is an eight-week employer-based contest where employees can earn points and win prizes for using alternative forms of transportation for work.

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How do I sign up for the Green Commute Challenge?

Read instructions for joining the contest.

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Can I sign up for the challenge if my employer isn't registered with RideShare Connection?

Ideally your employer will form a team for the Green Commute Challenge. If your company is interested in registering with RideShare Connection, the person who enrolls the organization must be willing to be the employer administrator for the team (i.e., the person who has access to the tracking reports, etc.). Consider asking someone in your human resources office to register the organization.

If your employer is not participating, you can participate by joining the Green Commute Challenge Community Team. Call RideShare at 816/842-7433 or e-mail us to learn more.

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How do I earn points?

Participants must use their RideShare Connection Commute Tracker calendars to log work-related trips. Trips using these modes will earn 8 points: carpool, vanpool, bus, bicycle, walk, telecommute. Staying in for lunch will earn 1 point. Non-work commute trips will not earn points.

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How do I use the Commute Tracker calendar?

Read instructions for reporting activities on the calendar.

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How do I log multimodal trips?

Read instructions for reporting multimodal trips on the Commute Tracker calendar.

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How do I report staying in for lunch?

Read instructions for reporting staying in for lunch on the Commute Tracker calendar.

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I don’t want to carpool. How can I make sure I don’t show up on someone’s match list?

When you log on to your account, click on “Edit My Account.” There you can select the button that says “No, I do not want to appear in other users’ searches.”

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Will I get more points if I go back to previous months and log trips?

No. The Green Commute Challenge is set to run from July 5–Aug. 26, 2011. Any trips reported before or after that time frame will not count in the challenge.

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I always forget to log my trips. Is there a way to get a reminder?

Yes! When you log on to your account, click where it says “Edit my account.” At the bottom of the page you can opt to receive an email reminder daily, weekly or monthly.

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Can hybrid vehicle, scooter or motorcycle trips be counted in the challenge?

No, they cannot. We know there is interest in reporting trips taken using these types of vehicles, but the underlying purpose of the Green Commute Challenge is to take vehicles off the road. For this reason, the challenge is designed to highlight modes of transportation instead of the type of vehicle driven. Additionally, while hybrids, motorcycles and scooters offer excellent gas mileage, their emissions levels can vary greatly.

How will I know if I won a prize?

The RideShare staff will notify prize winners by email. We also encourage you to "like" RideShare on Facebook to get quick updates on daily prize winners and other information about the challenge.

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July 5–Aug. 26, 2011