Iris, Vivian, and June enjoy the social aspect of carpooling, the most popular mode of transportation to church.

The following report was submitted by Maureen Peniuk of Crescent Fort Rouge United Church, Winnipeg. At the bottom of this post, you can find our participation statistics for 2018.

We improved our Faith Commuter Challenge participation rate to 80%! Last year it was 70%. What a fun way to celebrate the sustainable ways that we commute to church and “Live with Respect in Creation”. Carpooling (51%) is our preferred “green’ form of transportation to church. Walking (18%) is the second most popular mode, with transit (8%) and cycling (3%) much less common. The remaining 20% drive alone.

The Bulk Entry option is a great way to input the data for participants who do not sign up online directly themselves. Thanks to Faith & the Common Good for organizing this national challenge for us again.

Debbie is a member of the choir and a regular bike commuter.

Q: How long have you been commuting to church this way?

A: About 10 years. Sometimes I walk or take transit from work for evening events.

Q: What are some of the benefits of commuting to church by Bike?

A: No hunting for parking!

Q: Any interesting stories from your commute?

A: Sometimes I find myself singing the final hymn of the service while riding home down Nassau. There's not a lot of cars, but I sometimes get some funny looks as I zip past pedestrians.

Q: Your tips for others who may want to bike to church?

A: Get a panier or a basket to carry your stuff.

Summary of 2018 Faith Commuter Challenge

Seventeen faith communities registered from across Canada, including 4 provinces: British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, and Ontario. Crescent Fort Rouge United Church, highlighted above, recorded 82% participation! A number of others had just one dedicated soul, but every action helps.

Since this project was unfunded this year, our participation was lower than last year, so we were very pleased at the efforts put out by participating faith communities. In total, we recorded an overall reduction of 375 kg of CO₂ emissions. Even more importantly, these efforts provided a tangible example of how we can all work together to achieve the low carbon future we need. As noted last year and repeated by Maureen this year, carpooling is a preferred mode of green transportation for faith communities, and has sociable benefits.