[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/commuter_challenge.jpg” caption=”Top photo: Chris Heysel, director of nuclear operations & facilities, spins for clean air. He’s joined by, clockwise from top left, Mazen Hamadeh, a post-doctoral fellow in pediatrics, Sara Pilip, a fitness instructor at The Pulse, Peter Sutherland, dean of Science, and Melanie Stevens, a physiotherapist with Athletics & Recreation. Bottom photo: Matt Thompson, MACycle Co-op director, jokes around with busker, Clean Air Charlie.”]During a week of soaring temperatures and smog warnings, McMaster commuters are doing their part to help keep the environment clean.

At the midpoint of Commuter Challenge week, a Clean Air Day celebration took place in the plaza between the McMaster University Student Centre and Mills Library today from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The celebration included a “Spin for Clean Air” event, which involved cycling on either a bike trainer or a spinning class bike for either a 1.5-hour or two-hour time slot.

There also were free bike repairs courtesy of MACycle Co-op under the Commuter Challenge tent; a busker named “Clean Air Charlie”, and a special walking group session around campus and nearby trails.

To participate in this year's challenge visit ACT.mcmaster.ca and click on 'Commuter Challenge' under the Commuter Hero picture, and fill out the electronic participation forms.

A Commuter Challenge tent will be set up outside Gilmour Hall from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day this week to allow participants to fill out a hard copy form. There will also be free bike repairs courtesy of MACycle Co-op.