Nashville Connector launched its second annual Nashville Commuter Challenge on April 27. The challenge ends today, May 3 and encouraged Nashville employees to take at least one sustainable commute option throughout the week including carpool, transit, bicycling, working from home and more. The inaugural Commuter Challenge ran from Oct. 22–28 of last year, with approximately 3,500 non-drive-alone trips taken by nearly 600 participants, including those from 18 companies participating as a business.
“Nashville Connector’s Commuter Challenge is an innovative way to encourage residents to use more sustainable ways to get to work besides single occupancy vehicles,” said Mayor David Briley. “It helps alleviate congestion and reduce pollution. Last year’s Challenge was a great success, and I urge everyone who can participate – especially those who work downtown – to do so this year.”
Hytch Rewards and the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce kicked off the challenge at the beginning of the week by collaborating to expand mobility and reducing traffic and carbon output in the Nashville region by incentivizing Nashvillians to share rides. Hytch Rewards is a local company with a homegrown solution that incentivizes fewer single occupancy vehicles on the roads. The Chamber connected top employers in the downtown area, state and local government and nonprofit leaders with Hytch, a smart mobility option for employees and downtown commuters.
“Some 81 percent of downtown employees drive to work alone, even though half of downtown employees live within Davidson County,” said Miranda Clements, Nashville Connector program manager. “At Nashville Connector, we are aiming to help businesses and employees prepare for the future of Nashville. With the increasing traffic and congestion, there’s no better time than now to try a new way to get to work.”
The challenge ends on May 3 with Walk Bike Nashville, inviting bike commuters to meet up at several locations around town and ride in with a crew of fellow cyclists. Breakfast snacks will be served at Public Square Park from 7:45–8:30 a.m. to all bike commuters, and participants will hear from Mayor David Briley. For routes and additional information for Bike to Work Day, click here.
For additional information about Nashville Connector, or to sign up for the Commuter Challenge, visit nashconnector.org.
