Downtown Ann Arbor employers step up for Commuter Challenge

Wednesday, December 9, 2009 | Source: Concentrate

This story ran: 4/8/2009

Angelini & Associates Architects isn't standing out because its participating in getDowntown's Commuter Challenge. It's because every one of the nine people in the downtown Ann Arbor firm will be taking part in it this spring.

This year at least 63 Ann Arbor organizations are participating in the challenge to see who can log the most sustainable commutes during May, such as riding a bike to work. Kelly O'Doherty, an architect with Angelini & Associates Architects, already makes those trips either taking the bus in cold or riding her bike in the warm.

Her home on the southeast side of Ann Arbor is about four miles from her job's downtown office. The distance allows her to ride into downtown 2-3 times during the warm weather months, so participating in the Commuter Challenge was a no brainer for her and her firm.

"It encourages people to look for other ways to get around besides using their cars," O'Doherty says. "It also helps reduce congestion and our carbon footprint."

That's the idea behind the challenge and the whole getDowntown initiative. Downtown Ann Arbor has struggled with parking issues for years, so local leaders started getDowntown as a way of getting more people to downtown by using sustainable options, like car pooling, mass transit, bicycling and walking.

The Commuter Challenge is significant part of that. Its paired with other alternative transit options, like a transit-themed Movie Night at Arbor Brewing Company on May 6th, Bike to Work Day on May 15th and Downtown fitness walks

For information on the Commuter Challenge and other events, click here or call (734) 214-0114.

Source: Kelly O'Doherty, an architect with Angelini & Associates Architects and getDowntown
Writer: Jon Zemke