BTA celebrates 1.25 million miles logged in ‘Commute Challenge’

Jeff Capizzi (L) — shown here with BTA Director
Rob Sadowsky — logged 1,524 miles during September.
(Photo: Will Vanlue/BTA)

The Bicycle Transportation Alliance (BTA) hosted a party in the Rose Quarter Wednesday night to congratulate riders and celebrate another successful Bike Commute Challenge. In the month of September, the event’s 11,745 participants (split into 1,395 teams) logged 1,278,343 miles while riding their bikes to and from work (those numbers are down slightly from 2011, see all results here).

At the party Wednesday night, participants were treated to free pizza, beer, and a big prize raffle. The BTA also awarded individuals for exemplary commuting and teams got to see where they stacked up against the competition. Teams are made up of employees from businesses and organizations across Oregon (split into three categories and then separated by number of employees). The challenge is to get the highest percentage of employees logging trips (it’s not based on total miles).

And here are the 2012 winners:
Business and Non- Profits

  • 1 Employee: HoltzReport, Dr.Jeffrey D Sher, Kohles Bioengineering, The Copy Center at Camera Graphics, Willamette Pedestrian Coalition, Boont Rocks!, Pedal PT – All 100%
  • 2-4 Employees: Glad Rags – 100%
  • 5-24 Employee: Cast Iron Coding – 100%
  • 25-99 Employees: WSI – 90.95%
  • 100-499 Employees: SERA Architects – 53.04%
  • 500+ Employees Wieden + Kennedy – 14.18%

Public Agencies

  • 1-24 Employees: Commissioner Saltzman’s Office – 56.39%
  • 25-99 Employee: U.S Geological Survey Portland – 37.57%
  • 100-499 Employees: City of Portland Bureau of planning and Sustainability – 32.69%
  • 500+ Employee: Oregon Department of Environmental Quality – 11.20%

Bike Shops

  • 1-8 Employees: Metropolis Cycle Repair – 96.50%
  • 9-15 Employees: Bike Gallery – Downtown – 96.45%
  • 16+ Employees: Bike Gallery- Operations/Warehouse – 47.64%

In addition to the team winners (and bragging rights that come with it), the BTA handed out three special recognition awards: Most New Riders: Daimler Trucking – 45 new riders; Brian Reynolds Distance Award: Jeff Capizzi, Portland State Office Building – 1,524.1 miles; and Brad Buchanan Team Captain of the Year: Paula Funatake of NWEA.

BTA communications guy Will Vanlue asked Capizzi what the hardest part of all that riding was. “The food,” Jeff said with a chuckle. According to Vanlue, “Jeff said he had to eat an extra breakfast and extra dinner each day and sometimes his wife would meet him along his commute to drop off more food to fuel his ride home.” Now that’s commitment.

— Learn more about the Bike Commute Challenge and download complete results here.

Jonathan Maus (Publisher/Editor)

Jonathan Maus (Publisher/Editor)

Founder of BikePortland (in 2005). Father of three. North Portlander. Basketball lover. Car owner and driver. If you have questions or feedback about this site or my work, feel free to contact me at @jonathan_maus on Twitter, via email at maus.jonathan@gmail.com, or phone/text at 503-706-8804. Also, if you read and appreciate this site, please become a supporter.

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9watts
9watts
11 years ago

Where does Capizzi live? I’d venture nearly 40 miles from work…

mh
mh
11 years ago
Reply to  9watts

I don’t believe Jeff lives too horribly far away (unlike a prior distance winner who logged his miles commuting from Salem every day). I think he takes scenic routes, guides friends, neighbors and coworkers on their commutes. I’d guess he prefers being Out There to being In Here. And Jeff, if your prize didn’t include the good beer you hoped for, I’m happy to provide.

Rol
Rol
11 years ago

Jeez, that many miles?! Think about that. That’s power. About 12,000 people biking about 4 miles a day for about 30 days, equals about 50 times around the world, or 5 times the distance to the moon. And that’s just the people participating in the challenge.

scaryseth
scaryseth
11 years ago

Was a fun event with many more showing up then I though would be there. Look forward to next year!

jram
jram
11 years ago

So, I was just curious as to how much money may have been saved on fuel. Answer: $136,965 (assuming all miles would’ve otherwise been in a SOV getting 35 mpg and gas costs 3.75/gal). Pretty nice number for one month.

Joe
Joe
11 years ago

Thanks to everyone, what a great party even picked up some gloves 🙂

Ben Guernsey
Ben Guernsey
11 years ago

Yeah yeah, W+K picked up the 500+!

Lenny Anderson
Lenny Anderson
11 years ago

For the record its Daimler Trucks North America on Swan Island. Yes, the most new riders and over 22,000 miles to one of the most difficult destinations in the region for bike commuters! But we are making it better! A big shout out! to Swan Island TMA Director Sarah Angell and the bike commute team at DTNA.

Paula F.
Paula F.
11 years ago
Reply to  Lenny Anderson

Congratulations! I remember back in the late 80s working for Freightliner, it was tough even in a car to get in and out of there.