The Drive Less Challenge

The Drive Less Challenge is a fun, web-based program to help people become less dependent on their cars for a two-week period beginning on Earth Day, April 22nd and ending on May 5th. Walking, biking, and carpooling are all encouraged during that period, as is the use of public transportation – whatever decreases dependence on our usual frequent solo car trips.

Participating communities include Burlingame, Cupertino, East Palo Alto, Los Altos/Hills, Menlo Park, Mountain View, Morgan Hill, Palo Alto, Redwood City, San Carlos, San Francisco, and Sunnyvale.

Individuals and/or groups participate in friendly competition with each other to see who can reduce their use of private cars the most. Competition between garden or book clubs, school families, workplace teams neighborhoods – all groups and/or individuals who would like to participate are welcome. People can even compete against themselves! There are many categories of prizes, and therefore many winners.

The prizes are modest so as to keep the competition enjoyable rather than stressful, usually in the form of $10-$20 gift certificates that encourage participants to patronize their local merchants. After the two-week period is over people are invited to a big party at Kepler's to celebrate.

Learn more at http://drivelesschallenge.com/.