a midway bikelog

Metro Transit Commuter Challenge

Metro Transit - Commuter Challenge

Metro Transit has a new challenge going to encourage people to take the bus or train, carpool, bike or walk. Ok, it’s a pretty good thing to encourage people to try transit options other than driving their car. And it’s nice that there are prizes to encourage people to give it a try. But what are they saying with these prizes? Let’s take a look:

iPods (4)
Bicycles (6)
6 megapixel digital cameras (2)

Listen to music, ride your bike, take pictures. Good stuff. Next?

Salon gift certificates (3)
Mall of America gift cards (3)
31-day transit pass

Reward your effort with a little pampering, bike or take the train to the Sprawl next time. OK. Next?

$75 in gas
Grand Prize A flat-screen TV (an $800 value)

That trip on the bus sure was an experience, eh? Now go burn some gas. And go back to sitting on the couch.

Six bikes is a good thing, and iPods and cameras make fine prizes. But perhaps more of the prizes could encourage further alternate transit use. How about making some of the bikes folding bikes, and promote that they can be taken along on the train? Make the grand prize a nice Breezer Uptown 8. How about 6 months free bike locker rental? Even non-bike related, how about sports tickets to venues on train & bus lines? Restaurant gift certificates for places on transitways. Something. Sheesh, already.

I LIKE that the trains are using wind and solar power, and that the busses are using some biodiesel. I’m really looking forward to having a train line nearby. But let’s get the message straight, eh?