GREEN COMMUTE CHALLENGE
Guides & Explorers

Guides and Explorers are participants who are getting more involved — either by helping someone try an alternative mode of transportation (Guides) or by trying alternative transportation themselves (Explorers). Employers who recruit Guides and/or Explorers to their team will benefit by earning extra points for work trips logged by those participants.

How it works

Guides and Explorers participate in this component of the challenge on a voluntary basis.

RideShare will send a survey to employees who join Green Commute Challenge employer teams to ask if they would like to participate. Those who answer yes will be contacted by RideShare staff for follow-up information. RideShare will keep a spreadsheet of Guides and Explorers with contact info, home and work locations, and what mode(s) they use or want to use.

RideShare will match Guides and Explorers based on the following criteria:

• Commute mode preference
• Proximity of home location to one another
  (may encourage carpooling, bus or bike buddies)

Successful matching of Guides and Explorers depends on the availability of both in any particular part of the metro area. RideShare will do its best to ensure that all Guides and Explorers are matched with someone.

Guides and Explorers are asked to stay in touch with each other and report to RideShare at the beginning and halfway points in the challenge (RideShare will send reminder notices).

Expectations

Guides have to agree at a minimum to:

• Contact the Explorer(s) they are matched with at the beginning of the challenge.
• Report back to RideShare on the contact and explain next steps in helping the Explorer.
• Follow up with the Explorer and report back to RideShare.

Additionally, Green Commute Guides are encouraged to do the following, if appropriate and possible:

• Help with route planning
• Meet with the Explorer in person
• Do a transit or bicycle ride-along
  

Explorers have to agree at a minimum to:

• Talk to a Guide when contacted to explain their commute situation and interest in trying a new mode.
• Consider the Guide's advice.
• Unless circumstances make it impossible to do so, try the alternative mode eight times during the three months of the challenge.
• Report back to RideShare to share their progress.

Other requirements

All Guides and Explorers must be enrolled on a team in the Green Commute Challenge.

To qualify for the boost in points, all participants must be signed up with RideShare as either a Guide or an Explorer and complete the minimum reporting requirements for RideShare. Those who sign up but are unable to serve as a Guide or an Explorer will be ineligible for the 50 percent increase in points.

Previous challenge participants may sign up to be an Explorer if they want to try a new mode; however, they will not be eligible for the boost in points earned (see below).

Incentives

Points earned by Guides and Explorers who complete the minimum requirements for this program will be increased by 50 percent at the end of the challenge.

If you are a Guide, you will have the satisfaction of helping someone make changes to their commute by using a mode that reduces congestion, emissions and saves them money.

If you are an Explorer, you will be able to take small steps to reduce your dependence on driving and get some help with that process.  Explorers will also receive a starter kit for the mode they have chosen (1 kit per participant).

Bicycling starter kit:

• Bicycle helmet and leg band
• Personalized route planning and ride-along (subject to availability and schedule compatibility)
• Ongoing email and phone support
  

Transit starter kit:

• Short-term bus pass (Metro or The JO)
• Personalized trip planning assistance
• Ride-along assistance (subject to availability and schedule compatibility)
• Ongoing email and phone support
  

Carpool starter kit:

• Assistance with search for carpool matches (RideShare Connection and communication with employer)
• Assistance/advice related to setting up a carpool, such identifying a meet-up location, determining who drives and how often, etc.
• Ongoing phone and email support
• $10 QuikTrip card
  

Bike/Bus starter kit:

• Choice of either a short-term bus pass or a bike helmet and leg band
• Personalized trip/route planning assistance
• Ongoing email and phone support

Guides and Explorers who meet the minimum requirements for this program will receive a certificate of appreciation at the end of the challenge.

Have questions? Email us or call 816-842-7433.

 

OUR IMPACT

The Green Commute Challenge ended on Sept. 28, 2012, with 30 teams and 970 participants who:

• Reduced their driving by 796,678 miles
• Prevented 768,589 pounds of emissions
• Saved $167,302 in driving costs

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