29th Annual Smart Commute Week
June 5 – June 9
Smart Commute Week is an annual celebration held during the first full week of June. The purpose of Smart Commute Week is to promote alternative forms of transportation and to educate area residents of the benefits of a smart commute.
Join us June 5th through June 9th for events promoting cycling, walking, taking the bus and carpooling. Free daily breakfasts are hosted at various locations around town for smart commuters. Every year community members challenge each other to a friendly competition known as the Commuter Cup Challenge. The Challenge is open to ALL and totally FREE to participate.
All breakfasts are scheduled from 7am-9am and are free to all Smart Commuters. Seriously! All you have to do is smart commute.
You don’t have to sign up for the smart commute challenge to enjoy the free daily breakfast, but the more the merrier AND when you sign up you are eligible for sweet swag and prizes from our sponsors!
Custom trophies will be awarded to challenge teams with the highest scores at the awards ceremony breakfast held at Oryana on Friday, June 9th. Bonus points will be used as tiebreakers and for a chance to win additional prizes (must be present to win).
Smart Lots
Back by popular demand we have designated ‘Smart Lots‘ around town for Smart Commuters to safely park and ride/walk/carpool/bus from there. You may legally park in any of these lots during Smart Commute Week.
➡Click here for the Smart Lots map
2023 Breakfast Locations:
Thanks to our amazing sponsors we will be offering free, fun and safe grab-n-go breakfast from 7 am – 9 am each morning.
We repeat, all breakfasts are free to all Smart Commuters. Seriously! All you have to do is smart commute.
Monday, June 5th
North Peak Brewing Company | 400 W Front St, Traverse City, MI 49684
Tuesday, June 6th
Bubba’s | 428 E Front St, Traverse City, MI 49686
AND
Disability Network @ Silver Spruce Brewing | 439 E Eighth St, Traverse City, MI 49686
catering by Sugar 2 Salt
Wednesday, June 7th
BATA Transfer Station | 115 Hall St, Traverse City, MI 49684
AND
The Kitchen | 1249 Woodmere Ave B, Traverse City, MI 49686
Thursday, June 8th
Brady’s | 401 S Union St, Traverse City, MI 49684
AND
Grand Traverse Pavilions | 1000 Pavillions Cir, Traverse City, MI 49684
Friday, June 9th
Oryana, Awards Ceremony! | 260 E Tenth St, Traverse City, MI 49684
Commuter Cup Challenge Sign up
Team captains will need to register themselves/their team below and are responsible for keeping track of team points by logging commutes and bonus points online daily.
➡Register for the Commuter Cup Challenge!
➡Track your team rankings here!
1.) Form a Team. Rally your family, friends, classmates and co-workers…or compete solo. No team size restrictions. No age restrictions. Experts and beginners…all are encouraged to join in the fun. Any individual who might normally drive a single passenger vehicle to and from their destination but instead uses an alternative form of transportation is qualified to participate.
Rule: Team size must remain the same throughout the week!
Team division sizes: Large (26+), Medium (11-25), Small (2-10) and Individual
2.) Assign a Team Captain. Team captains will need to register their team online and are responsible for keeping track of team points and logging scores online daily. Team captains will receive an email each day that prompts them to record their team’s points. Please contact janna@traversetrails.org if you do NOT receive your email on Monday.
There is a Team Captain’s Meeting scheduled in-person or via Zoom on Thursday, June 1st from 11 am to 12 pm.
➡Team Captain’s Meeting Information
3.) Get Points. There are TWO ways to get points:
1. Smart Commute each day – ride your bike, walk, take the bus, carpool
2. Go to daily breakfasts and other sponsored activities to rack up even more points
Rule: Team Captains must record the total number of team smart commutes and bonus points (earned by attending sponsored activities) ONLINE daily. All points must be recorded online by 3 pm on THURSDAY, JUNE 8TH to be counted.
4.) Attend the Awards Ceremony
Grand prizes will be awarded on Friday, June 9th during the final Smart Commute Week breakfast at Oryana (must be present to claim prizes).
2023 Sponsored Activities
Saturday, June 3rd: Cherry Capital Cycling Club spring picnic
Sunday, June 4th: Recycle-A-Bicycle Bike Swap
Sunday, June 4th: Smart Commute Happy Hour Ride Little Fleet >>> Farm Club
Monday, June 5th: Breakfast at North Peak Brewing Company
Tuesday, June 6th: Breakfast at Bubba’s
Tuesday, June 6th: Breakfast at Disability Network
Wednesday, June 7th: Breakfast at BATA, Hall Street Transfer Station
Wednesday, June 7th: Breakfast at The Kitchen
Wednesday, June 7th: Go to the Sara Hardy Downtown Farmer’s Market
Wednesday, June 7th: Use BATA bus on Try Transit Free Day!
Wednesday, June 7th: Norte Slow Roll Smart Commute Week edition
Thursday, June 8th: Breakfast at Grand Traverse Pavilions
Thursday, June 8th: Breakfast at Brady’s
Friday, June 9th: Breakfast at Oryana
Sponsorship
The 2023 Smart Commute Week is presented by:
Bronco Wild Fund and Neighborhood Michigan Ford Dealers
Bronco Wild Fund works to increase access, preservation, and stewardship of public lands and is proud to work with non-profit collaborators like TART Trails to further our shared mission of connecting people to the outdoors, responsibly.
With generous support from:
Munson Medical Center, Honor Bank, Networks Northwest, 910 Media Group, Cunningham-Limp, Wild Card Cycle Works, North Peak Brewing Company, Bubba’s, Disability Network Northern Michigan, BATA, The Kitchen, Brady’s, Grand Traverse Pavilions, Oryana, Higher Grounds CoffeeTraverse Area District Library, Advantage Benefits Group, Groundwork Center, Fleet Feet, Remax Bayshore, Cherry Capital Cycling Club, Norte, Traverse City Downtown Development Authority and Bay Area Recycling for Community
We are proud to present a zero-waste event thanks to the generous support of Bay Area Recycling for Community!
Event Photography: Photos may be taken by TART Trails during this event to be shared across our communications channels. If you would not like your photo taken, please let us know.