2025 Sole Power Green Commuting Challenge underway

The Town of Vail recently issued the following press release on the annual Sole Power Green Commuting Challenge:

The annual Sole Power Green Commuting Challenge is underway and this year, participants will notice a big change to the program. A new mobile app is available and will track miles year-round. Search for “Sole Power” in the Apple App and Google Play app stores and download the new app for free. The app will automatically track and log trips, as well as show a participant’s teams and their position on the leaderboard. Participants can also choose to manually enter their trips using the app. 

The previous web-based portal has been discontinued. Existing users will receive a password change request sent to their email address linked to their account from no-reply@solepower.org. Once the new password is created, existing users will enter their email and new password into the app. This process will allow all users’ previous data to roll over into the app. For instructions, visit https://www.vail.gov/government/solepower/about/how-to-get-started. 

The rules for Sole Power are simple, participants may count any trip, as long as they have a destination and the ride, walk, skate, or run is not purely recreational. The goal is to use “sole” power and support active transportation instead of motorized options. So, if participants would have otherwise driven, taken the bus, motorcycle or other motorized vehicle, the trip counts. The program runs from May 26 through Oct. 13 with additional challenges within those dates. 

Sole Power is celebrating its 15th year with 2,973 participants logging almost 559,000 miles over 101,741 trips since the start of the program. The Sole Power Challenge is free and encourages active commuting in the Eagle Valley. Active, human powered commuting is a healthy option not only for people, but also for the environment. Participants get outside, get fit, reduce their carbon footprint, save money, and have fun. In 2024 there were 283 Sole Power participants logging nearly 53,000 miles. Since the start of Sole power, participants have reduced 519,229 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions. This is the equivalent of removing 56 gasoline-powered cars from the road for one year. The program is a great opportunity for businesses and individuals to improve personal wellness and do their part for climate action 

Every participant is eligible for a free Sole Power T-shirt designed by Kind Design, a long-time sponsor of the challenge. In addition, several other generous community sponsors have donated prizes such as hotel stays, gift cards for restaurants and bars, bike tunes, hats, custom messenger bags, commuting gear, and much more. Prizes will be given each week throughout the challenge with anyone who has logged a trip that week being eligible for a prize. Pedal Power in EagleVail has once again generously donated an e-bike to be given away at the end of the 2025 challenge. Any Sole Power participant who logs 40 or more trips throughout the challenge will be eligible to win. Sole Power hosts monthly happy hours with free or discounted beverages and the season will be capped off with a great end-of-season party. 

Check out the Eagle Valley Sole Power Facebook page or Instagram at EVSolePower and subscribe to the Sole Power e-newsletter at www.vail.gov/vailmail for updates on Sole Power happenings throughout the summer. For more information, visit www.solepower.org or contact Hunter Koch, Environmental Sustainability Program Administrator for Town of Vail at hkoch@vail.gov.

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