Last updated: 19th September 2007

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MORE THAN FIFTY SIGN UP
FOR THE LOW-CAR DIET CHALLENGE

Dates of Event: 1st - 30th September, 2007

Click here for the Registration/Completion Form

Featured Participants:

Doug Hunt is a 58-year retiree from the English Department at the University of Missouri, now studying Columbia history and the defects of his tennis game. He is married and has a teenage daughter. Rachel Ruhlen bikes 3 miles each way to her lab in the MU Medical School where she studies the prevention of breast cancer by nutrition, diet and lifestyle changes using a rat model. Her husband, Iain, and 12 year old daughter, Nell, reluctantly enable her bicycling addiction.


Other Participants: Erin Blaise, Tom Brinker, Eric Bunch, Chad Canfield, Shannon Canfield, Lily Canfield, Pete Canfield, Andy Davis, Mike Denehy, Matt Dreier, Jennifer Erickson, Jim Fieser, Derrick Gwinner, Trevor Harris, Lauren Hasler, Alison Hodgson, Daniel Hodgson, Daniel Hood, Doug Hunt, Nicholas Jacob, Robert Johnson, Lucie Kocum, David A. Knipp, Erica Kroll, Violet Kroll, Matthew Laye, Mark Lehman, Dianna Long, Dre Merello, Cherith Moore, Tricia Moreno, Sharin' Muskrat, Annarose Overshiner, Gina Overshiner, Max Overshiner, Simon Rose, Trent Rudder, Rachel Ruhlen, Zora Serfozo, Frederick Schmidt, Jody Schomaker, Ian Thomas, Matt Wayman, Kurt Wells, Zach

What is the Low-Car Diet Challenge? The Low-Car Diet Challenge is a fun way to promote active travel in Columbia and reduce the number of motorized journeys being taken. As part of Columbia's Active Living by Design project, the PedNet Coalition and the Ragtag Cinema challenge you to accomplish all your travel during the month of September, without using a car or truck.

What modes of travel are allowed during the Challenge period? Walking, bicycling, wheeling a wheelchair, roller-skating and all other “active” modes are allowed, as are electric-powered wheelchairs and other mobility devices. Scheduled mass transit modes including school buses, City buses, shuttle buses and trains are also allowed.

What modes of travel are NOT allowed? You are not allowed to drive or travel as a passenger in a car, truck, or any other privately-owned motor vehicle. You may not take a taxicab, van, or any form of transit that is specially-ordered (as opposed than running a scheduled service). You may not take an airplane (but see the ‘Business Traveler’ category, below).

What do I do if I want to if I want to take the Challenge but I have one out-of-town business trip during the month, or if I can do everything by bike except the weekly grocery shopping? For contestants with certain unavoidable commitments, two new contest categories have been created. Only ‘Elite’ category contestants win the 10-film pass to the Ragtag Cinema. What do I do if I have a question about the rules? For all questions about the Challenge rules, contact judges Chris Walthall (phone: 999-2814) or Paul Sturtz (phone: 443-0881). The decision of the judges will be final.

Who can enter the Low-Car Diet Challenge? Anyone living in Columbia or Boone County can enter the Low-Car Diet Challenge, except Board members and staff of the PedNet Coalition and the Ragtag Cinema.

When does the Challenge start and finish? The Challenge starts at midnight on August 31st (ie. the start of September 1st) and finishes at midnight on September 30th (ie. the end of September 30th).

Are there any other requirements? We request that you keep a journal of your travel experiences during September, and submit it to the Columbia Daily Tribune Low-Car Diet Blog Site and for possible publication in the newspaper. You will then be eligible for the Journal Prize, as well as a Challenge Prize.

How do I win a prize? If, during September, you travel only by non-motorized or mass transit modes as defined above, fill out the Completion Form (lower form on the second page of the Registration Form) and submit it by October 3. Mail it to the PedNet Coalition, or drop it off at any of the locations listed on the form.

What are the Challenge Prizes? Every contestant who completes the Challenge will receive the following prize packet: What is the Journal Prize? The contestant who writes the most entertaining journal and completes the Challenge will receive:
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