Commute Options Annual Corporate Challenge is ON!

June 5, 2006--Bend, OR- The 16th annual Commute Options Corporate Challenge is underway. Employees at over 80 companies throughout Central Oregon are saving gas, reducing traffic congestion and improving health!

Since its inception, the Commute Options Week Corporate Challenge has pitted like-sized businesses and organizations against each other in a race to see who can make the best use of options. Alternatives to driving alone include biking, walking, carpooling, vanpooling, teleworking and riding the bus.

Of course, options users get creative during the week. Here are a couple commuters you should know about:

Chuck Arnold, Bend Downtowner’s Association, 788-3628, will be using the following modes this week:
Tube to work on the river-Farewell Bend to Drake Park
Roller blade thru’ the river path in Drake Park
Sprint on foot along the road-Simpson/Galveston
Bike with child-Colorado Ave.
Kid’s scooter-Reed Market/Old Mill

Joe Orcelletto, Unicel Technical Services, cell: 306-8320 office: 330-9779
Joe bicycles almost three miles to work and back pulling Colby, his 100 pound golden retriever in a bike trailer.

The Corporate Challenge program is also an important launch vehicle for organizations to institute an overall program and encourage responsible commute practices year-round as well as raise awareness of the impact of daily commute choices.

Other notable happenings during Commute Options Week 2006:
Tuesday June 6 at 2pm, we honor Columbia Aircraft employees who are riding to work in vanpools paid for by their employer. Join us at 2pm at Columbia Aircraft on Nelson Rd. by the Bend Airport to meet the riders and see the vanpool vehicle. For details, contact Kim Curley at 330-2647.
Thursday June 8 at 3:45pm Sunriver Resort will win the Bend Chamber of Commerce/Commute Options Employer of the Year award. The award presentation takes place at Sunriver Resort, in the Hearth Room (or deck outside, weather permitting). About 50 Sunriver Resort associates will attend. The event is hosted by General Manager Brian Hughes and will feature Jeff Monson, executive director for Commute Options and Mike Schmidt, president and CEO of the Bend Chamber of Commerce. Contact ShanRae Hawkins at 593-7973.

The annual Commute Options Week campaign is a vital resource for educating the Central Oregon community on better ways to use transportation, and ensures the region will continue to be a desirable place to live and work. Commute Options Week sponsors include St. Charles Medical Center, Oregon Department of Energy, Oregon Dept. of Transportation, NorthWest Crossing, Brooks Resources, Tennant Developments, Hutch’s Bicycle Store, Deschutes Brewery, Bank of the Cascades, Tennant Development, Wachs Studio, Midtown Deli: The Bagel Stop, Tim Underwood Productions, Wachs Studio, Wild Oats Market, Bend Broadband, Combined Communications and The Source Weekly.

Commute Options for Central Oregon is a nonprofit organization serving the tri-county Central Oregon region. Commute Options promotes choices that reduce the impacts of driving alone.

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