Are you taking the commuter challenge?

It's almost time for the annual Commuter Challenge.

It's a friendly competition between Canadian cities to promoteactive and sustainable transportation and get people to leave their vehicles parked during the week of June 5-11.

Biking,walking,take abus or ride-sharing with others to get around are all alternatives to driving.

The Rainbow Routes Associationis encouraging residents inSudbury to participate in the challenge.

Executive director Daniel Barette said they're hopingto get 400 people signed up locally.

That would be about150 more participants than were signed up from Sudbury duringlast year's Commuter Challenge.

Sudbury ranked 5th in 2015

"We raised the bar a little bit from the past, but basically we ranked fifth in Ontario and now we're trying to aim for higher," Barette said.

He said Sudbury isin the same rankas Ottawa, and a few otherbigger cities, however Barette said we are behindThunder Bay.

Thunder Bay has ranked first for several years now.

Barette said that's due to that Northern Ontario city showing anincrease in participants.

He encourages newcomers to the challenge to try it outfor the first time and perhapsadopt this lifestyle in the future.

Barette calledSudbury agreat city in which to bike.

"Cyclists just need to find the routes that work for them."

Challenge tracks community impacts

The commuter challenge is also meant totrack collective andindividual impacts in each community.

Barettesaid statistics are important to get policy makers to recognize how manypeople use these alternatives to driving.

"It's about changing habits"

"It's about breaking up your routine...and trying somethingnew...It's about changing habits."

Those interested in participating in the challenge can sign up with anorganization or as anindividual, at commuterchallenge.ca

Barette says Rainbow Routes has prizes to give away during the challenge.

Morning North5:52Leaving your car behind for the commuter challenge

Daniel Barrette from Rainbow Routes is hoping hundreds of Sudburians will be biking and walking and bussing to work for the Commuter Challenge in a couple of weeks. He's hoping to get 400 people signed up for this year's challenge. He joined us in studio.