When I think about Smart Commute Week, I’m enveloped by a sense of warmth, camaraderie, and the feeling of being among friends (even if they are strangers). Everyone involved seems to be in a great mood, and it’s contagious!
The 31st Annual Smart Commute Week, taking place June 2–6, is all about celebrating and encouraging more sustainable ways to get around, like walking, biking, carpooling, and taking the bus. And maybe most important, it’s about coming together as a community.
This will be the 13th year that I’ve been involved of a version of Smart Commute Week. Before moving to the Traverse City area, I lived in Holland, Michigan, and helped managed Green Commute Week, which just so happens was based off of TC’s Smart Commute, so there are many similarities.
I love that the springtime event is a week filled with celebration. Beyond the personal or group commute challenge (which Groundwork is taking part in), everyone is welcome to come and share a meal with other smart commuters during the freedaily breakfasts, which are hosted at various locations around town. And there are other events happening throughout the week, such as the Cherry Capital Cycling Club’s Spring Picnic on Sunday, a film and panel discussion happening at the library Tuesday evening, or the Norte Slow Roll on Wednesday.
And don’t feel like you have to participate every day in order to join in. Do what you can. Even if it’s a couple miles that you end up walking instead of jumping in your car for a quick trip, that’s OK! It’s about the collective experience and showing what is possible as a community.
Even if you don’t live in the Traverse area, I encourage you to take part and find ways to sustainably travel that week. Or find out if your community does something similar—or even start an event of your own! Detroit has the Commuter Challenge which runs all May, Holland has Green Commute Week happening in September, and Grand Rapids has Active Commute Week.
You can find more details about the week and a list of events on TART Trail’s website. 
See you in the free coffee line in town!
Carolyn Ulstad is Groundwork’s Transportation Program Manager. carolyn.ulstad@groundworkcenter.org
