[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/McLaughlin_Sutherland.jpg” caption=”Peter Sutherland, Chris McLaughlin”]It turns out sustainable transportation is not a challenge for McMaster.

Twelve per cent of the McMaster population — or 618 participants  took part in this year's Commuter Challenge, leading the way among similarly sized companies and organizations across the country.

“We are just blown away by the results,” says Jennifer Dawson, Alternative Commuting & Transportation (ACT) Office co-ordinator. “With the help of a committed campus steering committee, enthusiastic and dedicated co-ordinators from 50 departments and the lure of free food we well exceeded our goal of 400 participants. Last year we only had 79 people take the challenge. We're just thrilled with this year's response.”

The Commuter Challenge, an event to encourage citizens and employees across Canada to walk, cycle, take transit and rideshare to work, took place May 30 to June 5, 2004. McMaster celebrated the week with an Active Transportation Fair, free pancake breakfast (served by President Peter George and Ward One councillor Brian McHattie), and a Walk 'n' Roll Party, which took up part of Zone 2 parking lot.

Several McMaster departments, grouped into three size categories, have been recognized for their participation in the weeklong challenge.

McMaster Institute for Environment & Health placed first in the Under 14 employees category for having 100 per cent participation from its group. In second place was the First Year Experience Office, with 80 per cent participation and third was the Learning Technology Resource Centre, with 60 per cent participation.

In the 15-39 employees category, the Dean of Science Office and Affiliates (Science Co-op) placed first with 100 per cent participation, followed by the Centre for Student Development, with 96 per cent participation and the Department of Geography and Geology, with 70 per cent participation.

In the over 40 employees category, the School of Business came in first with 69 per cent participation, followed by Religious Studies, with 42 per cent participation, Mathematics & Statistics with 31 per cent participation and Physics & Astronomy with 31 per cent participation.

McMaster's Commuter Challenge efforts were recognized Thursday, June 24 by Hamilton event organizers at Green Venture.

“The event is about fun, food and friendly competition,” Dawson says. “But McMaster's results also send a strong message that we are an active, sustainable transportation-supportive campus and we do our share for clean air.”

Photo caption: Dean of science Peter Sutherland, left, poses with the Commuter Challenge co-ordinator from Science Co-op, Chris McLaughlin. Sutherland rode his bike to McMaster each day of the Challenge, clocking 55 kms and keeping 13.2 kgs of greenhouse gases out of the atmosphere. The Dean's Office/Science Co-op had 100 per cent participation in the Challenge, kept a total of 152.61 kgs of greenhouses gases from the air and won a lunch at the University Club.