Travel green, win prizes in October

Siel Ju | October 4, 2010

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Need an incentive to get out of your car? Then I hope you love shopping at Best Buy — because this week you have not just one, but two chances to win a $100 gift card to your favorite store by thinking outside your personal vehicle.

Your first chance to win comes thanks to Rideshare Week 2010, which began today and continues until Fri., Oct. 8. While ridesharing implies sharing a vehicle, Metro’s letting anyone but solo drivers join in the fun. Simply pledge online to walk, bike, ride public transit, van or carpool — or even telecommute. For your e-promise, you’ll be entered to win dozens of prizes, including a $100 gift card to Best Buy, a Flip cam, tickets to Disneyland and other local attractions — and rather ironically, $50 gas cards.

Metro will have a hard time holding e-pledgers to their promises — but a second green commuting contest requires photographic proof of its entrants. The UCLA Transit Photo Project invites anyone living in the greater L.A. area to photo document their trips on public transit for a chance to win a $100 Best Buy gift card — and one of 3 smaller gift cards to Trader Joe’s or Starbucks.

All you have to do is sign up on the website — then take at least 10 photos on each of four trips on public transit. Send those in by the end of October, and you’ll be entered in the raffle for gift cards. Plus, you’ll have the happy knowledge that you’re reducing carbon emissions while helping out researchers at the UCLA Department of Urban Planning.

I know what you’re wondering: Why Best Buy? I’m not sure why both Metro and UCLA’s grand prizes come from the company, but I do know that Best Buy’s recycling kiosks are the easiest place to give unwanted CDs and DVDs a new life. If you win either of the contests, remember to take your unwanted recyclable goods with you to drop off before your shopping spree.

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