Campus Commuter reputation at stake

[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/comm-challenge-06.jpg” caption=”The Gloves Are On! ACT Office coordinator Daryl Bender (left), Deputy Mayor Maria Pearson and Hamilton Health Sciences CEO Murray Martin put up their dukes as part of a three-way challenge for the Commuter Challenge crown. Click here for FULL SIZE.“]The speakers were dressed business casual. The speeches were polite. But just beneath the smiling public face of Deputy Mayor Maria Pearson and Hamilton Health Sciences CEO Murray Martin lay the distinct glint of corporate competitive pride.

“I'm here on behalf of the Mayor to throw down the gauntlet,” Pearson said with a sly smile as she addressed attendees at the 2006 Hamilton Commuter Challenge Kick-off at the Chamber of Commerce yesterday. “Our coordinators in departments across the corporation are ready to go and we feel confident this will be our best year ever. We challenge Hamilton Health Sciences and McMaster University to beat us this year.”

Martin, knowing that this was Hamilton Health Sciences' first time participating in the Challenge, accepted Pearson's words with grace. “Our staff witness the effects of air pollution in Emergency rooms every summer,” he acknowledged. “As a corporation we have a dedicated volunteer committee promoting walking, cycling, transit and carpooling. We accept the challenge from the City of Hamilton and McMaster University.”

Thom Oomen, Sustainable Transportation Promoter at Green Venture and organizer of Hamilton's Commuter Challenge event, took a bigger picture view. “I just hope that we can beat Waterloo,” he said. “Every year they seem to just squeak by us.”

McMaster representative Daryl Bender of the ACT Office (Alternative Commuting & Transportation) didn't need to say anything. For the past two years, McMaster has had the best participation rate of any similarly sized organization across the country in this national celebration of active and sustainable transportation. “This is no time to rest on our laurels, though,” he cautioned. “Complacency could mean we lose. Our reputation is at stake.”

So to all campus commuters we send out the clean air cry: participate in the 2006 Commuter Challenge! Whether you're getting (re)acquainted with your bike seat, bus pass, ride-share partner or walking shoes, or these modes are familiar friends, we encourage you to fill out a pledge card saying you'll do your part at least one day from June 4 to 10. An online version of the card is available at http://act.mcmaster.ca/ccpledgecard2006.htm.

If friendly competition doesn't get your wheels turning, maybe food will. Campus participants in the 2006 Challenge are invited to a free pancake breakfast on Monday, June 5 from 8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. in MUSC, featuring the pancake flipping talents of McMaster President Peter George, vice-president, Administration Karen Belaire, MSU President John Popham, MP David Sweet and Ward One councillor Brian McHattie.

Participate in the 2006 Commuter Challenge. Because we all know its more fun to eat pancakes than humble pie.

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[img_inline align="right" src="http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/comm-challenge-06.jpg" caption="<b>The Gloves Are On!</b> ACT Office coordinator Daryl Bender (left), Deputy Mayor Maria Pearson and Hamilton Health Sciences CEO Murray Martin put up their dukes as part of a three-way challenge for the Commuter Challenge crown. <a href='./images/comm-challenge-06_big.jpg' target='_new'>Click here for FULL SIZE.</a>"]The speakers were dressed business casual. The speeches were polite. But just beneath the smiling public face of Deputy Mayor Maria Pearson and Hamilton Health Sciences CEO Murray Martin lay the distinct glint of corporate competitive pride.<br />
<br />
<p>"I&#039;m here on behalf of the Mayor to throw down the gauntlet," Pearson said with a sly smile as she addressed attendees at the 2006 Hamilton Commuter Challenge Kick-off at the Chamber of Commerce yesterday. "Our coordinators in departments across the corporation are ready to go and we feel confident this will be our best year ever. We challenge Hamilton Health Sciences and McMaster University to beat us this year."<br />
<br />
<p>Martin, knowing that this was Hamilton Health Sciences&#039; first time participating in the Challenge, accepted Pearson&#039;s words with grace. "Our staff witness the effects of air pollution in Emergency rooms every summer," he acknowledged. "As a corporation we have a dedicated volunteer committee promoting walking, cycling, transit and carpooling. We accept the challenge from the City of Hamilton and McMaster University."<br />
<br />
<p>Thom Oomen, Sustainable Transportation Promoter at Green Venture and organizer of Hamilton&#039;s Commuter Challenge event, took a bigger picture view. "I just hope that we can beat Waterloo," he said. "Every year they seem to just squeak by us."<br />
<br />
<p>McMaster representative Daryl Bender of the ACT Office (Alternative Commuting & Transportation) didn&#039;t need to say anything. For the past two years, McMaster has had the best participation rate of any similarly sized organization across the country in this national celebration of active and sustainable transportation. "This is no time to rest on our laurels, though," he cautioned. "Complacency could mean we lose. Our reputation is at stake."<br />
<br />
<p>So to all campus commuters we send out the clean air cry: participate in the 2006 Commuter Challenge! Whether you&#039;re getting (re)acquainted with your bike seat, bus pass, ride-share partner or walking shoes, or these modes are familiar friends, we encourage you to fill out a pledge card saying you&#039;ll do your part at least one day from <b>June 4 to 10</b>. An online version of the card is available at <a href="http://act.mcmaster.ca/ccpledgecard2006.htm" target="_neew">http://act.mcmaster.ca/ccpledgecard2006.htm</a>.<br />
<br />
<p>If friendly competition doesn&#039;t get your wheels turning, maybe food will. Campus participants in the 2006 Challenge are invited to a free pancake breakfast on <b>Monday, June 5</b> from 8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. in MUSC, featuring the pancake flipping talents of McMaster President Peter George, vice-president, Administration Karen Belaire, MSU President John Popham, MP David Sweet and Ward One councillor Brian McHattie.<br />
<br />
<p>Participate in the 2006 Commuter Challenge. Because we all know its more fun to eat pancakes than humble pie.

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