News Releases
Clean Commute Day Event Planned, Area Commuters Encouraged to “Commute Clean on May 18!”
For Immediate Release, 04/23/2007
Roanoke, VA., April 23, 2007– Jeremy Holmes, Transportation Alternatives Coordinator with the Roanoke Valley-Alleghany Regional Commission and Program Director for RIDE Solutions announced the annual Clean Commute Day event at the Commission’s downtown offices on Friday, May 18. Presentations and hands-on demonstrations of clean commuting modes and technology are planned, including free Segway test-drives. Participants in this year’s event include Valley Metro, the Roanoke Valley Cool Cities Coalition, Roanoke County, the Blue Ridge Bicycle Club, Segway of Forest, and others. More information about participants and events can be found online at www.ridesolutions.org/cleancommute.
“We want commuters to know how easy it is to practice clean commuting,” said Holmes. “Just one day a week spend carpooling, bicycling, walking or using public transit can have a significant improvement on the valley’s quality of life by reducing vehicle emissions and traffic congestion, saving money on commuting expenses, and even improving physical fitness.”
Clean Commute Day, marking the traditional start of the summer ozone pollution season, is an opportunity for area commuters to explore the links between their transportation habits and air quality in the Valley, and encourages them to take an active part in improving the region’s air by taking the Clean Commute Pledge at RIDE Solutions’ website. Prize drawings will be held for everyone who takes the pledge to use a clean mode or technology on May 18.
“Using clean commuting modes is important all year round,” added Holmes. “But it’s particularly important during the summer when vehicle emissions combine with heat to form ozone pollution. Pledging to commute clean and exploring alternative transportation is a powerful way to keep ozone pollution from becoming a problem.”
The Roanoke Valley-Alleghany Regional Commission serves as the lead staffing agency to the Roanoke Valley Area Metropolitan Planning Organization, which – along with the cities of Roanoke and Salem, the Counties of Roanoke and Botetourt, and the Town of Vinton – has joined together in an Ozone Early Action Compact with the goal of reaching EPA air quality standards by December 2007. The Early Action Compact can be found online at www.rvarc.org/work/eap.pdf.
“We want commuters to know how easy it is to practice clean commuting,” said Holmes. “Just one day a week spend carpooling, bicycling, walking or using public transit can have a significant improvement on the valley’s quality of life by reducing vehicle emissions and traffic congestion, saving money on commuting expenses, and even improving physical fitness.”
Clean Commute Day, marking the traditional start of the summer ozone pollution season, is an opportunity for area commuters to explore the links between their transportation habits and air quality in the Valley, and encourages them to take an active part in improving the region’s air by taking the Clean Commute Pledge at RIDE Solutions’ website. Prize drawings will be held for everyone who takes the pledge to use a clean mode or technology on May 18.
“Using clean commuting modes is important all year round,” added Holmes. “But it’s particularly important during the summer when vehicle emissions combine with heat to form ozone pollution. Pledging to commute clean and exploring alternative transportation is a powerful way to keep ozone pollution from becoming a problem.”
The Roanoke Valley-Alleghany Regional Commission serves as the lead staffing agency to the Roanoke Valley Area Metropolitan Planning Organization, which – along with the cities of Roanoke and Salem, the Counties of Roanoke and Botetourt, and the Town of Vinton – has joined together in an Ozone Early Action Compact with the goal of reaching EPA air quality standards by December 2007. The Early Action Compact can be found online at www.rvarc.org/work/eap.pdf.
