By Craig Leroux, Senior Communications Officer

Queen’s and the City of Kingston are once again participating in the annual Commuter Challenge, a friendly competition to encourage Canadians to decrease their carbon emissions and burn calories during the week of June 1-7.

Rachel Herron (Geography) participated in last year's Roll-in Breakfast during the 2013 Commuter Challenge.

“The Commuter Challenge is all about promoting the benefits of sustainable, active and healthy transportation,” says Aaron Ball, Sustainability Manager. “Last year, Queen’s had the highest participation in Kingston. I encourage everyone to register for this year’s challenge and simply choose to walk, cycle, carpool or take public transportation to campus at least once during the first week of June.”

Registration for the challenge is now open at commuterchallenge.ca. Participants can log their daily commutes from June 2-8 and contribute to Queen’s and Kingston’s tally for reduced emissions and increased exercise.

Kingston ranked third in Ontario last year for total carbon emissions avoided, behind only Toronto and Ottawa. Queen’s participants accounted for nearly a quarter of the city’s total.

The Commuter Challenge is happening during Cycling Week in Kingston. Neal Scott (Geography), the Canada Research Chair in Greenhouse Gas Dynamics and Ecosystem Management, is the president of Cycle Kingston, a non-profit that is organizing a Roll-in-Breakfast at Queen’s as part of Cycling Week and the Commuter Challenge. The breakfast is being hosted by Queen’s Sustainability and the AMS.

“Cycle Kingston is all about promoting cycling safety and the increased use of bicycles for active transportation,” says Dr. Scott. “The Roll-in-Breakfast offers a free breakfast and coffee for anyone on a bike! It’s a great way to encourage people to try cycling as a mode of transportation during Cycling Week and the Commuter Challenge.”

The roll-in breakfast takes place at the corner of Union and University streets on Tuesday, June 3 from 7:30-9:30 am. For other Cycling Week events, including the Kingston Family Cycling Festival, visit the Cycle Kingston website.