BIKE TO WORK WEEK
DRAWINGS AND WINNERS 

Bike to Work Week was a fun week, and there were many people joining in on the events. Despite the rain earlier in the week, many made the trek by foot or bike to work or to a community event and had a great time!. There were nearly 500 enthusiastic participants who registered for this year's Bike to Work Week. Here are a few of the winners from Bike to Work Week 2011:

      Gina Knowles                         Jason Cha                        Jason Jones     

Lodi Memorial Hospital                       UOP                           SJC Work Net       

       $250 REI Gift Basket           250 REI Gift Card              $250 REI Gift Card   

      Felipe Alvarez                    Shannon King                         Dave Koester      

        Nestle                            RIM Corporation                            Xerox               

    $250 REI Gift Card                $250 REI Gift Card             $250 REI Gift Basket  

Our sponsors played an important part in the success of Bike to Work Week. Commute Connection would like to thank our sponsors for all of their dedicated time, their continued support and generous contributions. Thanks to our sponsors:

VANPOOL INCENTIVE PROGRAM

The San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District (SJVAPCD) is seeking applications from vanpool riders for their Vanpool Voucher Incentive Program. Applicants must reside within the District (San Joaquin Valley) which encompasses San Joaquin through Kern Counties. The purpose of the Vanpool Voucher Incentive Program is to encourage commuter rideshare practices among frequent long distance (greater than 20 miles) riders in the San Joaquin Valley. Increasing passenger ridership by replacing single occupant vehicle (SOV) commutes in the region, will assist the district in the attainment of federal and state air quality standards.

The District is comprised of eight counties: San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Merced, Madera, Fresno, Kings, Tulare and the San Joaquin Valley portion of Kern County. The District does not meet the health based National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for ozone and particulate matter 2.5 microns or less in diameter (PM2.5), and is required to implement strategies that will result in emissions reductions.

All legally operating vanpool agencies may participate in the Vanpool Voucher Incentive Program. The program will fund a portion of the monthly passenger fare with a voucher booklet of twelve (12) vouchers used over the course of 15 months for a total of $360 per rider. Applicants may re-apply using the District application for Current Vanpool Riders Form for an additional year for up to three (3) years for a total of $1,080. For additional information on the SJVAPCD Remove II program click HERE.

TUNE IN & TUNE UP!

Here's an opportunity to get your car smogged and maybe even repaired for free!

In an effort to remove gross-polluting vehicles from valley roads, the Air District is teaming up with Valley Clean Air Now, for Tune In & Tune Up events throughout the Valley. Funding is available through California's Vehicle Repair, Retirement, Replacement for Motorists Program to assist valley residents who may have difficulty keeping their cars properly smogged.

If you reside in the San Joaquin Valley, and your vehicle is 1995 or older and you've owned it for at least six months, you're invited to attend any of the free smog test events being conducted throughout the valley this year. If your vehicle doesn't pass and your vehicle is repairable, you could receive up to $500 for repairs.

Get ready Merced, your Tune In & Tune Up event is first and it's just around the corner! Saturday, July 9th - 9a.m. - 3p.m. or until the first 525 cars are processed. Location: Merced Fair Grounds - 900 Martin Luther King Jr. Walk, 11th Street Parking lot. Click HERE for additional information on the Merced Tune In & Tune Up Event.

The following are tentative dates for additional events in the San Joaquin Valley:

July 9th - Madera

August 27th - Fresno

September 10th - Stockton

October 8th - Visalia

October 29th - Bakersfield

November 19th - Modesto

Dates are tentative! Commute Connection will keep you updated on dates as they are confirmed by Valley Air.