The Commuter Challenge website provides online motivation and ideas
During November Parramatta workers were challenged to try different ways to commute to work. The Parramatta Commuter Challenge ran from 1 to 21 November, encouraging commuters to leave their car at home and try a different and more sustainable way of travelling to work, while improving air quality and health, and easing congestion.
Parramatta City Council was awarded $21,000 to implement local air quality education projects to raise awareness and encourage the use of public transport in the area. The funding is part of NSW Government's 'Let's clear the air' education program, which encourages us all to improve air quality and reduce the number of kilometres we drive by walking, cycling and using public transport when possible.
- 46,000 Kilometres were commuted sustainably to work – equal to travelling around the world
- 16 tonnes less CO2 were used by walking, cycling and using public transport instead of of driving.
- 1.7 million Kj of energy were burnt – equivalent to 416,487 pounds of fat.
- 208 people took part from 10 organisations
The Challenge was open to all businesses and organisations in the Parramatta Local Government Area. Participants signed up to the website and logged trips to go into the draw for prizes.
Commuters were invited to register online, either as individuals or as part of an organisation, and record their sustainable travel trips, set goals for the number of sustainable trips or kilometres travelled each week, and record kilojoules burnt and CO2 saved. Beyond the Challenge, the website forms the basis of an online community with whom Parramatta City Council will continue to engage and promote sustainable travel.
The website promotes the advantages and benefits of sustainable transport. It includes local information and messages from the NSW Government's 'Let's clear the air' website as well as information and links to various Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water NSW websites.