Our University RideShare Transportation Champion is Dr. Kurt Zeller, Director of Vocal Activities and Opera, in the Department of Music. Dr. Zeller registered for The Clean Air Campaign Walk Challenge in March 2005. But unfortunately for Zeller, he collected his pedometer, “and then the NATS SE Regional auditions came to campus 1 April and the ensuing mess on my desk ate the pedometer” until it resurfaced sometime in June. Zeller has been walking since the fall when he tried the Cash for Commuters program that started in October 2004. This program allowed him to earn $3 per day that he walked to Clayton State. “I probably would walk almost every day if I didn’t have to lug this [heavy] laptop back and forth and if I weren’t here so often until very late at night,” said Zeller. He also stated that he would like to walk more but the south side of campus has very little pedestrian lighting and no sidewalks, which makes it very hazardous to the walker, especially after sunset. He lives approximately one mile from campus. Zeller would like to walk to Clayton State University every day but sometimes he has to bring costumes or other materials for rehearsals and may not leave until very late. He usually averages about two to three times a week. He would like more lighting and a sidewalk along Lee Street to make walking more pedestrian-friendly. Another thing about walking, according to Zeller, “is that it is a way of using one's commute time for a little extra low-impact aerobic activity. The academic life can be at once far too sedentary and far too overbooked. By choosing to live very near to my place of work, instead of the 30 minutes a day on the treadmill and 30-60 minutes a day sitting in traffic that many people have to contend with, I can get both activities done in the same 30 minutes--and save that "time in the car" for more practice!” Zeller came from Portland, Oregon, where he walked everywhere. “I lived there for 30 years without ever owning a car,” he stated. The culture in Georgia, according to Zeller, is very different from Oregon. Here, to his great surprise, some of our students even drive their vehicles to different buildings on campus. “We could do a lot more in Georgia to encourage pedestrian-friendly development” to encourage more walkers and a way to decrease the number of single occupancy vehicles on campus, Zeller said. We applaud Dr. Zeller’s efforts and his concerns for our environment. In June, he walked at least 20 times to and from Clayton State. Because of his efforts, we award him the University RideShare Transportation Champion award.