I’m fortunate enough to live close to downtown and can walk to work every day. On my daily treks down Charlotte Street I tend to see the same cast of characters over and over.

There is the guy who is always about two minutes ahead of me, arriving just in the nick of time to open his business across from Charlotte Towers. When I hit Reed Street I usually pass a man headed in the opposite direction, and then pass him again on the way home. I see real estate agents arriving at Bowes and Cocks and the same clientele coming in and out of the Charlotte Pantry every morning—clearly a lot of us have the same routines.

As Sue McGregor-Hunter said at the Shifting Gears Workplace Transportation Challenge launch last week, walking to work is a great opportunity to think and really enjoy some “me time.” I must admit during my journey to the office this morning, I dreamed up the majority of what you’re currently reading.

It makes me wonder just how many downtown businesses (and even those not downtown) have employees who walk to work. Here at Peterborough Green-Up the vast majority of us live close enough to walk or bike to work. Our staff who live out of town drive and carpool as a necessity. It would be a long hike in from Bobcaygeon!

Shifting Gears, now in its 6^th year, is a great way of encouraging commuters to walk, bike, carpool or take public transit to get to work. Staff at Green-Up, and dozens of other non-profit organizations and businesses around town are taking the Shifting Gears challenge to see how many of us can get to work without driving alone, and win some great prizes in the process.

Shifting Gears Ambassador Clifford McCarten is excited about the challenge this year, and was impressed at how many local businesses signed up and are participating.

“I’m really excited by with the large number of workplaces participating. It suggests a strong community interest in exploring and increasing sustainable practices. So far, we have over 60, with more coming on board every day,” McCarten said.

Businesses are encouraged to sign up at www.peterboroughmoves.com, where employees can enter how they got to work on a daily basis and see how well their workplace is doing compared to others in town that are also shifting gears.

Individuals are also encouraged to sign up, because in addition engaging with the natural environment of their community, there are also some fabulous prizes to be won! For those businesses and individuals without Internet access, don’t worry, you will be give a paper tracking sheet to keep score of your participation and still be eligible for prizes.

“Participants have a chance to win weekly prizes, including dinner for two at Parkhill on Hunter and Rare Steak House, bus passes, and a $150 gift card from Wild Rock Outfitters,” says McCarten. “I’m hearing a lot of interest in the grand prize, a $750 gift package to any Resorts of Ontario destination.”

In addition to the weekly prizes, McCarten will be surprising participating workplaces to catch people Shifting Gears. Anyone seen biking, walking or arriving at work in any other eco-friendly way will be awarded some great prizes such as coffee & ice cream certificates, bike lights, leg bands and ponchos.

Last year the program eliminated over 18,000 vehicle trips, reducing traffic congestion and air pollution. Carbon dioxide emissions were reduced by at least 23 tonnes.

“This is as much about people’s health and happiness as it is about the environment and saving money,” McCarten said.

There are also weekly events happening throughout the month to coincide with Shifting Gears. Every Friday from 7:30 to 9:30am there will be bike-checkups held at Confederation Park, across from City Hall on George Street, for those participating in the program.

I encourage everyone to participate in Shifting Gears, whether you’re a member of the business community or an individual. Together we can become more engaged members of out community, making our air a little easier to breathe, reducing traffic congestion by taking cars of the road, improving our physical and mental health, and maybe winning a prize in the process. I hope you join me and hundreds of others as we shift gears!