Getting the most mileage from that commute to campus.

That is the idea behind Transportation Week Sept. 15-19 at West Virginia University .

Throughout the week, the Universitys Department of Transportation and Parking will unveil WE GO !, its campaign to promote alternative forms of getting around WVU from hoofing it and taking the bus or Personal Rapid Transit to joining a car pool or van pool.

Each day we will showcase a particular mode of transportation and what we at the University can do to help make that service more accessible to commuters,said Hugh Kierig, director of transportation and parking.

There will also be giveaways and prizes ranging from gift certificates to a Nintendo Wii and Apple iPod.

WE GO ! is a comprehensive initiative aimed at reducing traffic congestion and parking demand on campus and helping students and employees save on fuel costs.

Services include free use of Mountain Line buses and the PRT , an online car-pooling site that matches employees who commute to campus and an employee van-pool program for long-distance commuters. A car-sharing program for students and employees to rent cars on a short-term basis will be implemented at the start of the spring semester.

Were excited about these services, especially our efforts to match car-poolers and van-poolers commuting to campus from the same area,Kierig said.We are aware of the stresses students and employees are under due to the high gas prices, and we want to do what we can to help.

These efforts are the transportation part of the Universitys sustainability program , called WE CAN for WVU Environmental Conservation Awareness Now.

Transportation Week schedule

Monday, Sept. 15

Walking/Bicycling Day: Walking and bicycling are the easiest, most cost-effective and most efficient ways to get to and from campus. Walkers and bikers are encouraged to stop by Grand Central Station on University Avenue between the Downtown and Evansdale campuses to receive coupons for the Regal Beagle Café and Coffee House, giveaways and enter to win one of three prizesan Apple iPod and gift certificates to the Regal Beagle.

Tuesday, Sept. 16

Car Pool Day: WVU s online car-pooling site matching employees who commute to campus goes live this day. Employees can go to transportation.wvu.edu to fill out a form, and WVU will match commuters from the same area. Employees who join a car pool will notice a drop in fuel costs, make new friends, have access to premium parking, receive 10 one-day parking permits for days they have to bring their own car to work and be guaranteed a ride home in case of an emergency.

Wednesday, Sept. 17

Van Pool Day: WVU employees who commute more than 15 miles can sign up to join a van pool. An organizational meeting will be held at 10 a.m. in the Mountainlair Shenandoah Room, with follow-up meetings around noon. For those who cannot make these meetings, opportunities to participate will be provided through the Transportation and Parking Web site. Members of the pool would pay a monthly fee to VPSI , a private commuter service, and in return receive the keys to an insured van. The University will provide free parking, 10 one-day parking permits for members who have to take their own car to work on certain days and a guaranteed ride home to members who have to leave work early because of an emergency.

Thursday, Sept. 18

Mountain Line Day: Mountain Line, which offers free bus service to WVU employees and students with valid identification, will have an information booth set up in the Mountainlair in front of Hatfields. There will be maps, schedules and giveaways. Students and employees who ride the bus the most between Monday and Wednesday of Transportation Week will receive credit on their Mountie Bounty Card or cash awards of $50 (first place), $25 (second place), $15 (third place) and $10 (fourth place).

Friday, Sept. 19

PRT Day: The PRT provides convenient transportation to all of WVU s campuses, and students and employees ride free with valid identification. WVU s one-of-a-kind people-mover will mark another milestone in its 33 years of service as it approaches 70 million riders. There will be free coffee and cookies and giveaways at all five stations in the morning. The 70-millionth rider will win a Nintendo Wii, a gift certificate from the WVU Bookstores and other prizes.

Transportation Week sponsors are the Regal Beagle Café and Coffee House, Mountain Line, WVU Bookstores, WVU Transportation and Parking, and the WE CAN sustainability program.

More on the Net: http://transportation.sitespace.wvu.edu/