According to New York City’s Earth Day website, the average American drives twenty-nine miles a day, spends fifty-five minutes behind the wheel, and uses nearly one-fifth of the household income on transportation. Can we change our commuting habits to save time, money, and the environment at the same time?
Green Your Commute Day will take place on May 16th throughout New York State. The goal is to show that when we reduce the vehicle miles traveled in single occupancy vehicles, we can reduce greenhouse gas emissions while benefiting commuters and communities.
By taking public transportation, we can lower vehicle insurance and parking costs, minimize travel risks, and even get some work done on the journey. Carpooling can connect workers with colleagues. Commuters that walk or bike can improve their health while they save money and reconnect with their neighborhood, making those neighborhoods safer for everyone.
These benefits help communities invest in public transportation infrastructure, such as the Citibike system in New York City, and the addition of Bus Rapid Transit and expansion of the marked bike routes in Albany, NY.
To learn more about greening your commute, join this collaborative venture on May 16th, aligned with National Bike to work day. In Albany there will be a lunchtime bike tour and bike safety checkup, a dozen or so electric fuel vehicles on display, free bus passes, newly-labeled bike routes, and a demonstration of bike transport on hybrid buses.
Access the New York DEC website for more details.
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Photo, taken September 3, 2009, courtesy of Oran Viriyinci via Flickr.
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Earth Wise is a production of WAMC Northeast Public Radio. Support for Earth Wise comes from the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies in Millbrook, NY.