The Chicago Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) and the Active Transportation Alliance issued a challenge to northeastern Illinois commuters aiming to reduce single-car occupancy and increase healthier travel modes, such as transit and biking.

The recently launched campaign is called "drive less. live more." More than 320 people and 17 companies have already signed up to participate.

Through drivelesslivemore.com, the Web-based challenge allows commuters to track their modes of travel, see how they can reduce carbon emissions and become eligible for prizes such as transit rides, a folding bike and a Chicago “Stay-cation” hotel package. Walking, carpooling and vanpooling are travel modes promoted as alternatives to driving alone in addition to transit and biking.

“The most effective way to reduce air pollution is to reduce the number of commuters on the region’s roads,” said RTA Executive Director Joe Costello. “The 'drive less. live more.' campaign is a friendly competition to promote travel options, such as our vast transit network and numerous bike-friendly paths and lanes available in the region.”

Challenge participants can register either as companies or individuals. Six challenges will occur now through August, 2013. The first challenge, “TransitWorks,” is now accepting teams. The challenge runs throughout the first week of December.

Companies compete with other companies based on their size and category. A company wins if it has the highest percentage of employees logging an eligible commute to work in its category during the challenge time-frame. The winning team receives public recognition, a virtual winner’s certificate, and the satisfaction of being the healthiest and greenest workplace in northeastern Illinois.