Gonzaga Recognized in 2020 Commute Smart Champion Awards

In 2021, Gonzaga was recognized as a Platinum worksite at the 2020 Commute Smart Champion Awards presented by Spokane County’s commute reduction program, Commute Smart NW. Worksites achieve ratings by completing various activities related to commute trip reduction throughout the year. Gonzaga University was one of only two Platinum worksites in 2020. Jim Simon, Gonzaga ’s Director of Sustainability, represented Gonzaga as an organization that “continually demonstrates support, commitment, advocacy and creativity in promoting and using commute trop alternatives.”  

Simon is cares about the way our community commutes to campus daily and works tirelessly to educate the campus community on ways to lower our transportation carbon footprint. A new Sustainable Commute Guide provides links to Spokane Transit’s bus times and routes, and the bicycle routes and paths throughout Spokane. Other alternatives include evaluating whether a car is necessary and using community resources such as Lime bikes and scooters which are convenient for getting downtown quickly. Using the guide and evaluating alternative commute options, anyone can find ways of commuting to campus and slowly reduce their carbon footprint. 

"Commuting to and from campus comprises almost 30% of our greenhouse gas emissions footprint. Taking bold steps to reduce these emissions will help improve our air quality, reduce congestion on campus and in the Logan neighborhood, and reduce our impact on the environment. We have miles to go, but this recognition helps show that we are on the right path.” 

As we head back into more of a "normal" world after the pandemic, try and think of ways you can change the way you commute to places to lower your personal carbon footprint while encouraging others to use more sustainable ways of transportation.