Bikers on John Nolen for Ride the Drive.
City of Madison

Dane County Residents Exceed 10,000-Trip Goal in Spring Roll Challenge

posted 

Dane County residents and commuters logged more than 10,700 car-free and carpool trips during RoundTrip Greater Madison's third annual Spring Roll Challenge in April, surpassing the 10,000-trip goal and showing how small daily travel choices can deliver big benefits for the environment and household budgets.

The free Earth Month challenge encouraged participants to swap solo driving trips for options like riding the bus, biking, walking, and carpooling for everyday trips. 

Participants tracked their trips using the RoundTrip website and app—reducing emissions, saving money, and earning prizes from local business sponsors, including Madison BCycle, Ian's Pizza, Festival Foods, Forage Kitchen, The Soap Opera, and Willy Street Co-op.

Preliminary results show participants collectively avoided 22 tons of carbon dioxide emissions and saved 2,476 gallons of gas—equivalent to taking five gas-powered passenger vehicles off the road for a year. They also saved more than $13,900 in fuel and vehicle costs. Trip logging will continue through early May.

  • 434 challenge participants
  • 10,742 bus, bike, walk/roll, and carpool trips
  • 59,691 miles traveled
  • 22 tons CO₂ emissions avoided
  • $13,900 saved on gas and car maintenance
  • 1,400,000 calories burned

This was our biggest event yet, and it was exciting to see so many people inspired to leave their cars at home and choose other options for getting around. 

We hear from participants that these challenges are motivating and help them build habits that stick beyond the challenge—because they're having fun, saving money, and feeling good about doing something positive for the environment.

—

Zia Brucaya, RoundTrip Program Manager

That impact adds up. Transportation is the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States and a major household expense. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, households spend on average more than $13,000 per year on transportation, second only to housing. Choosing alternatives to driving alone even a few times a week can meaningfully lower those costs while supporting a healthier environment.

RoundTrip offers tools to support these choices year-round, including carpool matching and an Emergency Ride Home program for commuters who do not drive alone to work or school. As the Spring Roll Challenge wraps up, RoundTrip encourages everyone in Dane County to continue trying more ways of getting around this summer.

The program's next transportation challenge will take place in September. 

About RoundTrip Greater Madison: RoundTrip is a program of the Greater Madison Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) that helps individuals and employers in Dane County choose affordable, sustainable alternatives to driving alone.

About the Greater Madison Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO): The Greater Madison MPO is a public agency serving 36 communities, leading transportation planning and investing in projects that improve mobility across the Greater Madison area.

Departments:

Categories:

Was this page helpful to you? * required