Clean Commute Challenge

Did you know that a car that averages 20 mpg emits 1 pound of carbon emissions per mile?

Replacing passenger vehicle trips with clean commuting (e.g., walking, biking, eBiking, etc.) is one of the few ways people can take urgent climate action now.

The City of Salida’s Sustainability Committee is partnering with TerraQuest to launch a Clean Commuting Challenge on Earth Day, April 22, 2022, to incentivize people to replace car trips with human-powered trips. In addition to the monetary reward, the challenge includes a leader board to inject a little friendly competition.

To join the Challenge, follow the instructions below:

Download the TerraQuest app (Apple or Android)
Create an account
Tap "Programs" at the bottom of the screen
Enter invitation code: salidaccc
Record walking, biking or eBiking that replaces car trips in and around Salida
Get paid $0.50 cents per mile when 22,050 mile goal is reached.

FAQs

Is there a cap on the number of daily clean commuting miles that count toward the challenge?

Yes, the daily cap is 10 miles. Any excess miles will generate TQX carbon credit tokens. Each token equals 2,205 miles, 2,205 lbs of carbon offsets, and 1 carbon credit.

Is the challenge limited to a geographic area?

Yes, the challenge area is limited to Salida and the surrounding areas as shown below, which is roughly bounded by the Arkansas River on HWY 291 to the north, Tenderfoot Mountain to the east, Cleoria to the southeast, Poncha Springs to the southwest, and HWY 285 to the west. Only clean commuting tracks within the map boundary attached below will count towards the 22,050-mile goal.

How do I get paid?

Participants are paid out once the 22,050-mile challenge goal is reached via PayPal and Venmo. You can link your PayPal account email address or Venmo account phone number in the TerraQuest app.

Can kids participate?

Yes! However, children will need to link their guardian’s PayPal or Venmo accounts because PayPal and Venmo users must be at least 18 years old.

Can I use another app to record my clean commutes?

Yes, you can use any app that enables the export of .gpx tracks, and you can upload tracks via the https://terraquest.com/ website under your user profile.