This week we celebrate our sixth Commuter Choice Award nomination, a person who led his company’s relocation to the heart of downtown Minneapolis. 
Drum roll please for our sixth nomination in the Commuter Benefits Coordinator category: Mishael Uwadiae of MSR Design .
Mishael Uwadiae is the Human Resources and Office Manager at MSR Design, an architecture firm whose philosophy is to create beautiful places that are environmentally responsible and have enduring value. When MSR relocated from the Mill District to its new office space in the heart of downtown, Mishael created the opportunity for employees to improve their commutes by signing up for Metropass and promoting sustainable transportation options.

Mishael invited Move Minneapolis to MSR's old office to present at a staff lunch-and-learn. MSR employees posed their unique commute-related questions and received immediate answers from the Move Outreach Team. As a direct result of Mishael’s work, the majority of MSR employees now use sustainable modes (walk, bike or transit) to get to work .
Congrats to Mishael on his significant commuter choice accomplishments at MSR Design!

Up next, a company whose mission is to save lives through transplant and their transformational commuter benefits work.
Metro Transit Front-door Boarding Starting on Aug. 1
Video by Metro Transit

Keeping You Safe

Beginning Saturday, August 1, front-door boarding will return to Metro Transit buses along with onboard fare payment. All buses have newly installed plexiglass shields to protect drivers and customers.

Face coverings are required on all Metro Transit buses and trains, except by children under age 2 and those with health conditions.

Riders are encouraged to make touch-free payment with a Go-To Card or the Metro Transit app . Coins, dollar bills and transit passes are still accepted. Riders on the Blue, Green, A or C Lines pay at ticket machines or validate their Go-To Cards at stations before boarding.

To maintain social distancing, all customers – except those with special needs – should exit through the back door. If a bus does not have space to allow adequate social distancing, the driver will display "Next Bus Please" on the overhead sign, notifying customers that they need to wait for the next bus.

For more information see  metrotransit.org/health
The Downtown Bike Room Boom

Bi cycles have long been part of Minneapolis culture, but their popularity has taken off this summer. According to Eco-Counter – a designer and data analyzer of bicycle and pedestrian counters , urban area ridership is up 21% across the U.S. compared to the summer of 2019. Biking has quickly emerged as the preferred sustainable commute option during the pandemic. To accommodate long-time bike commuters and make space for new ones, a growing number of downtown buildings are adding state-of-the-art bicycle facilities. These facilities offer amenities ranging from bike storage rooms, shower and locker rooms, bike repair stations and even branded building bikes for tenants to use.
Ryan Companies Corporate Headquarters, Millwright Building (left)
533 S 3rd St

Located in East Town, Ryan Companies boasts a beautiful bike room within their corporate headquarters. Features include sleek shower and changing facilities, an airy two-story bike room, a Dero Fixit station and a fleet of company bikes that employees can check out at no cost.

Butler Square ( center)
100 N 5th St

Butler Square offers premiere bicycle amenities, including a large bike storage room complete with a Dero Fixit station. The building continues to invest in offerings for bicycle commuters and will soon finish state of the art locker and shower facilities. When Hennepin Avenue reconstruction wraps up in 2022, the new off-street bike lanes will allow bike commuters to easily access Butler Square.

T3 (right)
323 N Washington Ave

The North Loop’s T3 building features a large ground level bicycle storage space that is incorporated into the main lobby. The space is filled with stunning artwork. Tenants also have access to shower and locker facilities. Best of all, T3 provides a direct link to the Cedar Lake Trail. 
Connect with our new website moveminneapolis.org - a smart, slick, to-the-point sustainable commuting resources for employers, commuters, and property managers. Catch the latest in sustainable commuting, request a transportation benefits consultation, and view our growing collection of Move Minneapolis webinars. It's a fresh way to #MoveLikeABoss
Move Minneapolis is a 501c4 nonprofit that promotes sustainable transportation.

Support is provided by a federal Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) grant in partnership with the United States Department of Transportation, the Metropolitan Council, the City of Minneapolis, MnDOT, Hennepin County, and the downtown community.