The Challenge

The Big Green Commute is a week-long commuting challenge hosted by ZGF each May that challenges commuters in the Washington, DC region to Go to Work, Make a Difference. The competition was founded on the belief that change can be affected at a personal and community level. The competition coincides with Bike to Work Week and incentivizes commutes via walking and biking but also rewards participants for carpooling, taking public transportation, or driving electric vehicles.

The U.S. transportation sector is responsible for more greenhouse gas emissions than any other sector of our economy. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, transportation accounted for 33% of U.S. emissions in 2019. Since the pandemic, D.C. commuters are driving alone more and taking transit less. A 2022 survey conducted by the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments found that the pandemic has spurred a dramatic decrease in mass-transit use. Seventy eight percent of D.C. area commuters reported driving alone–up 14 percentage points from 2019. The percentage of commuters taking the train dropped from 20 percent to 10 percent, and the share of commuters riding the bus declined from 6.5 percent to 4.8 percent. This issue remains timely and urgent!

By engaging our friends, colleagues, and community in a friendly week-long challenge, our goal is to advocate for a healthier, greener society and to inspire behavioral change.  Join us in the 2023 Big Green Commute to compete to be recognized as Greenest of Them All while taking action and making a difference!