Earth Day: Perfect Day for Transit
Tuesday, April 22, 2008 4:59 PM
Today is Earth Day, a day celebrated by almost 1 billion people around the world with concerts, rallies and neighborhood clean-up events, according to Earth Day Network, an organization which started the first Earth Day in 1970.
Even cartoonists are getting into the act with 43 comic strips today focused on an Earth Day theme. Read more here. (In today's Blondie strip, Dagwood says, "I think we should start by conserving energy on the home front," and then promptly falls asleep on the couch).
Conserving energy - and going green is no longer for the granola-hippie set. It's cool to be green. Luxury hotels are encouraging guests to go green. W Hotels is launching a bike program, offering guests a spin on a bike at no charge. Even fashion designers are creating chic, organic clothing they hope will appeal to fashionistas.
To those of you who rode a bus or train today, thank you - you've done your part to create cleaner air by taking public transit. For those who drive, remember this: Every trip you take - or not - can affect our air quality.
Consider this:
- A well-maintained vehicle produces 20 percent less ozone-related emissions, saves gas and results in less congestion due to car breakdowns.
- Inflating your tires to the proper level can save up to 18 gallons of gas a year.
- Using public transit, carpooling, vanpooling, walking or biking - just one day a week every week for a year - can save drivers 1,200 miles on their vehicles and about $455 in driving costs.
Before you jump in your car to run errands, think how you can combine trips to reduce road congestion and air pollution. Click here to read about ten simple steps to cleaner air quality. 
Earth Day is also a perfect day to remind transit leaders that now is a good time to develop relationships with environmentalists, encouraging them to advocate for public transit as a way to clean up our environment.
"Remember, word-of-mouth marketing is the most powerful form of marketing on earth, and environmentalists are primed to help spread the word about transit - if we ask them, says Permanent Campaigns Consulting, a transit advocacy organization.