Team TRANSIT, Team BIKE, Team CARSHARE and Team CARPOOL went head-to-head in a competition yesterday afternoon to raise awareness about the viable transportation options available in our region as part of Citizens for Modern Transit’s Great Race II. The event, designed to play off the CBS television hit “The Amazing Race,” required each team to follow route specifics indicative of its transportation mode while trying to get from The Laurel Apartments in downtown to the finish line at Fortel’s Pizza Den in Clayton the fastest during the evening rush.
Each team was made up of local media personalities and representatives of companies and organizations with a vested interest in the alternative commute, including: Anchor Kevin Steincross of Fox 2 News, reporter Heidi Glaus of KDSK News channel 5, reporter Diana Zoga of KMOV Ch. 4, meteorologist Angela Hutti of Fox 2 and News 11, Phillips & Company Morning Show host Kevin The Intern of Y98, Todd Morgan from KHITS 96.3, Riz from 105.7 The Point, Rosalind Early from St. Louis Magazine, Don Corrigan from Times Newspapers; Lindsay Toler from Patch.com; representatives from Citizens for Modern Transit, Metro, the St. Louis Regional Clean Air Partnership, Enterprise CarShare, RideFinders, Great Rivers Greenway, STL Style, Fortel’s Pizza Den, the City of St. Louis, St. Louis County Economic Council, MERS Goodwill, FOCUS St. Louis, the Federal Courts, BMW of O’Fallon, St. Louis Bicycle Works, Spoked STL and Wolfpack Hustle, and well as members of the community at large.
The race got underway at 4:30 p.m. at The Laurel Apartments in downtown St. Louis and culminated with a finish line celebration where recognition and bragging rights were awarded to the winning team, food and beverages were served and goodie-bags were given to the first 100 guests at the Fortel’s Pizza Den in Clayton. Team Carshare took first place however all the teams arrived within minutes of each other – really telling the story that all are viable options for work and play in St. Louis.
Area residents rallied behind the alternative mode of transportation they like best by interacting on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/GreatRaceII. The finish line celebration was open to the public.
Citizens for Modern Transit’s GREAT RACE II was made possible thanks to the support of the St. Louis Regional Clean Air Partnership, Metro, Enterprise CarShare, RideFinders, Great Rivers Greenway, The Laurel, Fortel’s Pizza Den, St. Clair County Transit District and STL Style.
Great Race II was a ‘great’ experience for St. Louis to highlight all the viable alternatives available for work or play. We were extremely happy with the turnout and support we received. Remember give transit or one of these modes of transportation a try, your commute may just go from good to GREAT!