September 28, 2020                                                                                                              

MONTEREY COUNTY – The Transportation Agency for Monterey County (TAMC), in partnership with Blue Zones Project Monterey County, and the City of Salinas are challenging at least 1,000 people to ”take a trip to the moon” with them during the 3rd Annual Go831 “Smart Commute to the Moon Challenge” in October.  The agencies have partnered together to promote the county-wide challenge aimed at reducing traffic, CO-2 gas emissions and healthier lifestyles by promoting smart alternative commute options such as telecommuting, walking, biking or a combination of a park/walk or bike option to their driving alone to work or college.

From October 1 – October 31, anyone living, attending school and/or working in Monterey County can participate in special events planned during the month and compete to win over $5,000 in prizes which can be won during weekly, individual, team and employer competitions. Each participant who completes and tracks at least two smart alternative commute trips during the month will be automatically entered into a weekly random drawing to win a $200 gift card. Winners of the challenge will be announced in November.

Participating in the “Go831 Commute Challenge” is easy:

1. Participants must first register online at go831.rideamigos.com using their work or student email link distributed by their employer or college. 
2. Next, they can search for smart commute options on the go831.rideamigos.com platform.
3. To get credit for their smart commute trips, participants must track them on the go831.rideamigos.com platform or download and use the CommuteTrack app by Rideamigos.
4. Participants must sign the Blue Zones Pledge
5. Salinas participants are encouraged to download the Salinas Connect App

Together with the participation of 1.000 members of our community tracking our movements during the challenge, we'll journey 238,900 miles to the moon for the health of our community and planet.

More information available at: go831.rideamigos.com and info.bluezonesproject.com/to-the-moon

Debbie Hale, Executive Director of TAMC says that during these challenging times, now is the perfect time opportunity to turn some of our new travel patterns into good habits.  She went on to say that “Many employers have come to realize that teleworking allows for greater productivity and a better work life balance for employees. The Go831 Smart Commute Challenge will give folks a way to turn their walks, bike rides and teleworking into a win for the environment, and a win for themselves."  

Tiffany DiTullio, Executive Director of Blue Zones Project Monterey County,  which is about community, collaboration and transformation, added, “Our organizations share the goal of creating new pathways so we can all safely walk, bike, and explore new ways to navigate where we live. Moving naturally, safely, through our community means we have the ability to make the healthy choice the easy choice.”   

The challenge is supported by the City of Salinas, whose Mayor Pro Tem Christie Cromeenes encourages Salinas residents to use the October challenge as  “a building block to find safe, social distanced ways to improve your health and mental well-being with outdoor activities and healthy eating; for together we can build a better community starting from the inside out.” 

The collective work of TAMC, the City of Salinas and Blue Zones Project Monterey County through the Go831 Commute Challenge demonstrates a community wide effort to lay the foundation for community where everyone can move around in  a manner that is safe, sustainable and healthy for individual and for the  environment.

Go831 is a countywide rideshare program sponsored by the Transportation Agency for Monterey County aimed at reducing traffic and improving air quality and health by encouraging smart commuting instead of driving solo. The program is offered for free to employers and commuters in Monterey County. To learn more about Go831 or how to participate in the program, contact Tracy Burke Vasquez at tracy@tamcmonterey.org or call her at 831.755.775-4404.   

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 The Transportation Agency for Monterey County (TAMC) is responsible for investing in regional transportation projects for Monterey County residents, businesses and visitors.  The mission of TAMC is to develop and maintain a multimodal transportation system that enhances mobility, safety, access, environment quality and economic activities in Monterey County. For more information visit www.tamcmonterey.org or call 831.775.0903.

Blue Zones Project Monterey County (BZPMC) is a community-wide well-being improvement initiative to help make healthy choices easier for everyone in our community.  For more information visit www.montereycounty.bluezonesproject.com  or call 831.775.0903.

The City of Salinas, Neighborhood Services Division is providing an array of family friendly activities to engage in throughout the month of October. The list of activities can be found at www.cityofsalinas.org and social media accounts by searching @SalinasNeighborhoods.