Top performers in the Drive Less Challenge contest for Los Altos and Los Altos Hills were honored at the GreenTown Los Altos Bike, Walk, Win! Party on Thursday, May 10 at 359 State St. Bicycles.  About 60 people attended, including a number of riders on their bicycle commute home on Bike to Work Day.

Brooke Ray Smith took top honors with the most “green miles” (over 600), including 159 miles commuting by bike

Brooke Ray Smith (right) receives Grand Prize for Los Altos/Hills (photo courtesy of Joel Bartlett)

during the two-week contest.  Her efforts avoided over 330 pounds of CO2 emissions.  Brooke Ray lives in San Francisco and commutes to Los Altos by train, riding her bike to and from the train stations. One day each week, she bicycles to work, sometimes bicycling the entire way and other times taking the train to the Millbrae station and then bicycling the rest of the way.  Much of her bike trip is on the beautiful trail that runs along the bay.  Brooke Ray received a gift certificate for a one-hour massage from Shawsu, a beautiful orchid arrangement from Alabasta, a $40 gift certificate from Gitane and a gift certificate for alterations at Paris Tailor.

With the help of Brooke Ray and over 160 other participants, Los Altos and Los Altos Hills was ended the contest as the #1 community in the region-wide contest that included many much larger cities.  In terms of total “green miles” (miles traveled by alternative means such as carpooling, walking, biking, or taking the bus or train) and in emissions avoided, our community performed better than second, third and fourth place finishers:  Foster City, Palo Alto and Sunnyvale.  This was a significant improvement over last year’s fifth place finish.  Our community logged over 10,000 green miles and avoided over 6,000 pounds of CO2 emissions.  Go team!

Other prize winners honored in Los Altos on Thursday night, included:

Second Place Overall “Git Around Green” Award

Gary Segar went over 500 green miles, avoiding over 280 pounds of CO2 and he did it by carpool, train and bike (111 of his miles were by bike).   He receive a gift certificate for a one-hour massage from Shawsu, a gift certificate for breakfast or lunch for two at Rick’s Café and a certificate for a Marie Callender’s pie.

“Thank Goodness for Worplace Showers” Awards

Rich Hill bicycled over 240 miles to and from work.  He was awarded a gift certificate for a one-hour massage from Shawsu and a gift certificate for breakfast or lunch for two at Rick’s Café.

Nanci Scharfen bicycled 174 miles to and from work and took the bus a couple of other days for another 36 miles.  Her prize was a $50 Safeway gift card and a $20 gift certificate from BK Collections.

Steve Folkman combined biking and train to win his award.  He routinely rode his bike to the train station then
traveled by train to Belmont and rode his bike from there to his office.  Most days, he then rode his bike the entire 17 miles home.  He won a $40 gift certificate for Sumo Sushi and a $20 gift certificate from Chain Reaction Bicycles.

“Double Century” Awards

Lucy Hsu went over 200 miles on her bike for errands and kids’ activities.  She won a $20 gift certificate to Casa Lupe Restaurant, a $10 gift certificate to the New Wing Wah Restaurant, $10 gift card for The Bicycle Outfitter and a $10 gift certificate to BK Collections.

Kimberly Beck, also known as The Biking Baker, logged 241 bike miles for errands, school and kids’ activities.  She received a prize of a $20 gift certificate to Chef Chu’s, a $10 gift certificate for Tom’s Depot, a $10 gift card for On Your Mark and a $10 gift card for The Bicycle Outfitter.

Susanne Jul biked (43 miles) and carpooled (97 miles) to work and then either biked or walked another 57 miles just for errands.  Like the other winners of this award, she also totaled over 200 green miles during the two weeks.  Her prize was a $20 gift certificate to Chef Chu’s, a $25 gift certificate for Hartman Fashions and a $5 gift certificate to the Gourmet Works.

“Wheels on the Bus Go ‘Round and ‘Round” Award

Sue Young, aka “Cycle Sista,” traveled by bus for more miles than anyone else – a total of 78 miles for her commute to work. On days when she commuted some other way, she either carpooled or biked.  She won a $20 gift certificate for BK Collections, a $10 gift certificate for Tom’s Depot and a $10 gift card for The Bicycle Outfitter.

“These Boots Were Made for Walkin’” Award

Jeanne Evilsizer walked the most miles of anyone in the contest.  She logged 28 miles walking to work and for errands.  She received a certificate for a Marie Callender’s dinner for two and two $10 gift cards for On Your Mark.

“Electric Errands” Award
Doug Hahn mixed it up on the green miles, biking and driving his electric car. He tallied 136 electric miles for kids’ activities and errands.

Gary Hedden wins “Busy Biker” Award (photo courtesy of Joel Bartlett)

“Busy Biker” Award
Gary Hedden rode 127 miles on his bike just doing errands and rode many more bicycle miles for social, civic and fun activities. He won a $20 gift certificate for Chain Reaction, a $10 gift certificate to Tom’s Depot and a $10 gift certificate for Andronico’s Market.

Student Awards

In the student category, we had a number of winners who biked, walked and carpooled.

Jarrod Hsu won “Century Club” Award, going 164 green miles, of which 140 were on his bike.  He received a $40 gift card to Skateworks, a $10 gift certificate to Tom’s Depot and gift certificates for two ice cream cones at Baskin-Robbins on State St.

Three students won “Reliable Rider” Awards for their consistent bicycling efforts during the contest.

Christina Segar, aka “Blachbiker,” bicycled to and from school each and every day of the contest and won a Chain Reaction gift certificate for a Blackburn Flea bike light and a $20 gift card from Adventure Toys.

Dylan Weitz commuted 22 miles to school by bike for 9 days of the contest and also received a Chain Reaction gift certificate for a Blackburn Flea bike light and a $20 gift card from Adventure Toys.

Amy Linker, going by the online moniker “Red Velvet,” biked or walked 50 miles to and from school and other social activities.  She won a $10 gift certificate to the Linden Tree, a $10 gift card from The Bicycle Outfitter and a gift certificate for an ice cream cone from Baskin-Robbins on State St.

Matthew Leong wins a “Karpooling Kids” Award (photo courtesy of Joel Bartlett)

Three additional students were honored with “Karpooling Kids” Awards.  They each received a certificate for an extra large pizza from Spot Pizza and a gift certificate for an ice cream cone from Baskin-Robbins on State St.  Mitchell Kita carpooled for 84 miles, Matthew Leong carpooled 47 miles to school and activities, and Cindy Linker carpooled or biked to school and church, and carpooled to gymnastics and other activities.

All winners also received two coupons for a free dumpling or soda with purchase at Sudam Korean Cuisine.

Winners who were not present on Thursday will be mailed their prizes. Congratulations to all our winners!  We hope they continue their environmentally healthy ways of driving less.  They are each an inspiration to other members of our community.

Many businesses in town were prize sponsors for the event and we’d like to thank these businesses for their support.