News Release
For Immediate Release
Contact: Beth Gorman (520) 243-7446
Tucson, Arizona (February 20, 2009) – Dust off the bike, lace up the tennies, check out the new bus schedule, or arrange a carpool and join the alternate modes revolution in April. Local agencies and businesses concerned about air quality, wellness, changing behaviors, and reducing traffic congestion have organized over two dozen events to promote the use of alternative modes of transportation during this year’s Clean Air Days & Bike Fest. Everyone is encouraged to drive less and carpool, walk, bicycle, or take the bus to improve our quality of life, health, and possibly win a prize. The Clean Air Days and Bike Fest activities are scheduled from April 1st through April 30th at many different venues that stretch from Sahuarita to Oro Valley. This year, the City of Tucson will host a Bike 2 Work Commuter Challenge during the month of April, to encourage employees to bicycle to work. And a Clean Air Contest kicks off on April 1st through April 30th to track actions and reward those who reduce pollution and greenhouse gases by driving their car less and take an alternate mode of transportation instead.
“We are excited this year to be expanding this great community event to include activities in Sahuarita, as well as Oro Valley,” said Beth Gorman, Program Manager at Pima County Department of Environmental Quality. “We are seeing support from many different groups to help people learn how to go green to save money, reduce air pollution and traffic congestion, and live more sustainably,” Gorman continued.
“The City of Tucson Department of Transportation’s goal for this event is to change transportation habits,” said Jennifer Donofrio, Transportation Planner with the City of Tucson. “During the month of April, we celebrate changing habits by encouraging novice bike riders to ride their bikes to work and thanking experienced riders for making the commitment to ride to work,” Donofrio added.
Activities include several Bike 2 Work Day Celebrations, Green Ways to Work Day, Bike to the Zoo Day, Tucson Earth Day Festival, Birding and Biking, Bike 2 Books at Bookmans and Barnes and Noble, Green Living Fair at the HabiStore, Bike-In Movie at BICAS, Pima Community College Earth Day, Downtown Bike Tour, GABA Bike Swap Meet, American Lung Association Asthma Walk, and more. Secured valet bicycle parking will be offered at many of the venues.
Clean Air Days and Bike Fest 2009 planning committee and partners include the City of Tucson, Pima Association of Governments, Pima County, Town of Sahuarita, Oro Valley, Town of Marana, Downtown Tucson Partnership, Sun Tran, Pima Community College, the Governor's Office of Highway Safety, American Lung Association, HabiStore, and Bookmans. For event details and contest information call 243-7446 or visit www.cleanair.pima.gov or www.dot.tucsonaz.gov/bikefest.
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