Whether you arrive by car, bus, bike or on foot, Wayne State University wants you to consider your commute. The university will participate in the Detroit Commuter Challenge, a monthlong campaign promoting more sustainable and healthy forms of commuting.
Participating in the challenge is easy — consider carpooling with a friend instead of driving alone, or biking instead of taking the bus. Log your trips on the Commuter Connect website during the month of May and you’ll be entered to win prizes, including an iPad, Tigers tickets, a Marriott hotel stay, and Visa and Amazon gift cards.
As the seventh-largest employer in Detroit, Wayne State strives to lead the region in efforts to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from commuting trips by 175,000 pounds in the month of May. This is equivalent to the weight of 33 cars. By reducing the vehicle miles driven alone, air pollution is reduced in Southeast Michigan.
“A major piece of Wayne State’s mission is to positively impact and meaningfully engage in its urban community,” said Amy Alexandar, who serves as transportation ambassador for the newly launched WayneRides program. “WayneRides embodies this engagement by continuously encouraging the campus community to rethink the way we get around metro Detroit.”
Alexander, a graduate student in WSU’s urban planning program and experienced transit rider, leads WayneRides, Wayne State’s one-stop shop for all things transportation and mobility in and around Detroit. WayneRides aims to increase awareness and use of local transit services by the Wayne State community through hosting open office hours, information sessions and group rides. The transportation ambassador role is a partnership between the Dean of Students Office, the Office of Economic Development, and Parking and Transportation Services.
Wayne State is an investor in numerous projects to encourage connections between campus and the surrounding community, including transportation services such as MoGo (pictured) and the QLine, operated by M-1 Rail. Both area bus services, DDOT and SMART, have recently added new direct and limited-stop services throughout the city and region, including Midtown and WSU’s campus.
These and other projects such as Zipcar, the Midtown Greenway Loop, public bike repair stands, electric vehicle charging stations and Wayne State’s free campus shuttle increase mobility options for the campus and surrounding community, enhancing connectivity and quality of life.
“The Commuter Challenge is another way for the campus community to experience the city of Detroit and make new connections through hopping on public transit, getting some fresh air on their bike or making friends with a neighbor to carpool,” Alexander said. “Not to mention that the options in Midtown are expanding, so once you’re on campus, commuting around the city is smarter and more efficiently is easier than ever.”
Many Warriors are already choosing such transportation options.
By bus
For senior Maggie Nelson, the commute to school is a time to catch up on homework. When Nelson comes to campus, she takes the SMART Bus from the Oakland Community College Park and Ride to Wayne State. Nelson prefers the SMART bus to driving her own car because she doesn’t have to think about traffic and can relax instead of driving.
“It is great to take the SMART bus, especially considering Michigan’s unpredictable weather. It is nice to just sit back and relax without the pressure of driving,” she said.
By bike (and sometimes bus)
Patrick Cooper-McCann, an instructor in the Department of Urban Students and Planning, loves the 20-minute bike ride from his apartment to campus each day. To avoid the cold and snow during the winter months, Cooper-McCann takes the DDOT bus, which gives him time to answer emails and grade papers while saving money on gas and mileage and eliminating the stress of parking.
By carpool
Melissa Crabtree, senior director of customer service at C&IT, makes the drive to Wayne State each day from Toledo. It takes her over an hour to drive in each morning and two hours to get home, thanks to the construction and traffic on I-75. Despite the time she spends in the car, Crabtree has made this commute to Wayne State for 10 years. While Crabtree’s commute is too far away to ride a bike or take a bus, the Commuter Challenge promotes the use of carpool groups to cut down on each individuals driving time. For information on how to set up or join a carpool group visit the Commuter Connect website.
“I love everything about Wayne State. We have such talented staff and students, and we are right in the middle of Detroit, where amazing things are happening. I just love that I am a part of a family here, and that everyone feels the same way,” Crabtree said.
More information about the Detroit Commuter Challenge and alternative commuting options can be found online. To learn more about WayneRides, visit its website or Facebook page or contact Amy Alexander at transit@wayne.edu.