Group Health Commute Challenge
May 1st-31st, 2006

What is the Group Health Bike Commute Challenge?

It's a chance to test your bike-commuting mettle by riding to work as often as you can during National Bike to Work Month, May 2006. Challenge yourself, challenge your workmates or challenge neighboring businesses. Just commit to commuting at least 5 days (roundtrips) during these thirty days to join a team! Register anytime during the month as long as you can still complete five trips per rider; it's also OK to ride the bus or carpool part-way, but only report the mileage for the bike portion of your commute. Please do not report any extra mileage for trips that are extra or recreational to your normal commute; five round-trips per rider maximum per week please.

Why should I take the Challenge?

At the Vulcan Bike to Work Breakfast event in 2005, Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels challenged Cascade Bicycle Club and Puget Sound cyclists to help make this region the healthiest, cleanest place in the country; in '06 we can all help make this a reality! Biking to work is also very satisfying and will improve a rider's health plus reduce stress. Bike commuting also reduces our reliance on cars, which means less pollution and less traffic congestion. So we invite YOU to take the challenge, get on your wheels this May and "Grin and Bike it!".

Even with unpredictable weather, anyone can ride one day per week, and that's all it requires to take the Group Health Commute Challenge! This year we have amazing prizes, including two free bikes, bike gear, Starbucks cards and lots more.

There is no "I" in Team!

Activities are more fun when you can participate with friends. Last year, over 400 teams completed the challenge, so why not gain recognition for your office, department, or organization by forming a team or two? Appoint a Commute Challenge Team Captain to enter basic team member info on the website. These valued Team Captains earn a free long-sleeved exclusive "Captains Shirt" and an invitation to the "Captains Bash" at Cascade Bicycle Club! Don't forget, the more new commuters you get to join the team, the better chance you have at winning the top prizes. Every week we send out a special "Cross-town Traffic" e-news letter to all team members with the latest news and weekly prize drawing winners.

Wear you colors!

New for 2006 all team members will receive a custom Commute Challenge leg band courtesy of Group Health Cooperative. Wear your band on your leg, arm or just put it on your bike for the whole month. Let's see how many we can see on our commute each day! Be sure to say hello to your fellow Challenge participants. As an added incentive for you to play along, Cascade Bicycle ambassadors will be on the road during May granting instant prizes to riders they see wearing their band! Team captains must pick up these items for their teammates at one of the team captain packet pick-up locations listed here, or one of our three special bike month events during May:

• May 12: Captains Bash
• May 19: Starbucks Bike To Work Day Rally, Fremont Bridge
• May 25, 4-7pm: UW Hubbub

Team Sign-up: It's fast and it's free!

1. Team Captain forms team of 4-10 riders, decides on team name and registers online (registration opens April 18th).
2. After registering, Team Captain picks up free shirt & package full of goodies for teammates at one of the packet pick-ups listed online, April 24-May 4. Captain uses resources from the Toolbox on website to challenge other departments or offices and to motivate and inspire their team! We will have logos available for your use (toolbox coming soon -- stay posted).
3. Team members bike to work at least five times during the month; of course, the more you ride, the higher you rank! Team members can download a tally sheet from the website and keep track of their trip data or enter it daily directly online.

You don't have to join a team or have Internet access to enter

You can enter as a solo participant in the Challenge; just visit the website and register as an "Individual" on the sign up page. Sorry, but only team captains of teams with 4 or more riders earn a free Captains shirt. You will follow the same instructions as above to register.

To register by mail/fax call 206-517-4826 to request a form or stop by the CBC office during regular office hours, Mon-Fri 9-5pm.