Curb Your Car Week Challenges Commuters to Use Active Transportation

SPRINGFIELD, IL – The Springfield-Sangamon County Regional Planning Commission has once again teamed up with area government agencies, organizations, and businesses to promote a Curb Your Car Commute Challenge.  The 8th annual Curb Your Car Week is scheduled May 11th-16th 2015. Participants are invited to join a group ride on Wednesday, May 13th at 7:30 a.m., starting at Washington Park with a stop at the Governor’s Mansion and ending at the Old Capital Farmers Market in downtown, Springfield.

The Department of Central Management Services coordinates state employee participation in the weeklong commuting event. State Agencies and employees who participate may be eligible for prizes and incentives including “Agency with the Most Participants,” “Longest Commute” and more. Participants will be sent a link to enter their commute information, including the number of trips, mileage etc., and can print their own “passport.” Employees who already use alternate transportation still qualify for the program.

“This event is a wonderful opportunity for state agencies to promote the positive impact active transportation has on personal, financial, and environmental health,” said Barb Bonansinga, Acting Deputy Director of Agency Services at the Illinois Department of Central Management Services. “We encourage everyone available to give it a try and join us for the group ride on Wednesday with a special stop at the Governor’s Mansion.”

"Citizen health and safety are important themes as we plan our communities,” said Linda Wheeland, Senior Planner, Transportation Planning at the Springfield-Sangamon County Regional Planning Commission. “ Promoting active travel - biking, walking, running, taking the bus - through community design provides the opportunity for people to exercise, save money, reduce their carbon footprint, and engage in the community as they travel.  The Curb Your Car Commute Challenge offers incentives, support, and friendly competition to encourage people to experience the advantages of leaving their cars at home.  The Springfield-Sangamon County Regional Planning Commission gratefully recognizes the numerous local collaborators and sponsors of this event.”

While this program’s scope is for employees in Springfield and Sangamon County, there are programs available for employees in other areas of the state; participation in those is also encouraged. All Sangamon County employers are eligible to participate. Further details are available at the Sangamon County Active Transportation website.