News Release
For Immediate Release
Contact: Beth Gorman (520) 740-3343
Tucson, Arizona (March 27, 2007) – The annual
Clean Air Days event is designed to encourage residents to take
action for healthy air and less traffic congestion. Other side
effects of carpooling, taking the bus, riding a bike, walking,
and driving clean fueled vehicles include saving money, reducing
our nation’s dependency on foreign oil, reducing emissions
that contribute to global warming, and an all around good feeling
that you are doing something to improve the planet. If action
is taken during the month of April and a Clean Air Contest entry
form is completed, participants will be eligible to win a great
prize donated by local businesses.
“We hope that by trying a different way to commute for
fun or to win a prize, we will realize that we could incorporate
that change into our lives on an occasional basis,” said
Beth Gorman, Program Manager for Pima County Environmental Quality. “Since
the majority of our air pollution comes from motor vehicle use,
even using alternative modes of transportation one day a week
will make a difference in the health of our air,” Gorman
continued.
One way to make a change is to drive a clean-fueled vehicle
and the Clean Air Fair at Reid Park on Sunday, April 1 will feature
a Clean Fueled Auto Show. “In 2005, Tucson displaced 3
million gallons of petroleum through the use of alternative fuels
such as ethanol, natural gas, biodiesel, and hybrid vehicles,” said
Colleen Crowninshield, Pima Association of Governments’ Clean
Cities Manager. “That’s 3 million gallons of petroleum
that were not purchased overseas and are not polluting the air
that we breathe,” she continued. The Clean Air Fair’s
Clean Fueled Auto Show from noon to 4:00 p.m. will feature various
types of vehicles using biodiesel, CNG, and ethanol.
The Clean
Air Fair will also feature live music, face painting, puppet
shows, kids activities, and information booths. Sun Tran is offering
free rides all day on Sunday, April 1st and the Reid Park Zoo
is providing free admission to those who ride their bikes to
the zoo. The schedule of Clean Air Days events is available at
www.tucsonaz.gov/cleanairdays.
Clean Air Days event sponsors include the City of Tucson and
Pima County Departments of Transportation, Pima Association of
Governments, Pima County Department of Environmental Quality,
Sun Tran, Pima Community College, City of Tucson Parks and Recreation,
Fair Wheels Bicycles, and Southwest Gas. For more information
call Pima County Department of Environmental Quality at 740-3947.
Bike helmets are encouraged for all riders and are a must
for bike riders under 18 years of age
Bike to Work Day
Leave your car at
home and join hundreds of other Tucsonan's biking to work on
Friday, March 30. The annual Clean Air Days event kicks off
with a Bike to Work Fair in front of the Main Library downtown
from 7 to 9am. A continental breakfast,
bicycle registrations, bicycle demonstrations, and safety devices
will be provided if you bring your helmet. Contact the Tucson
Department of Transportation at 837-6691 for more information.
Not a downtowner? No worry, challenge your employer to join
Bike to Work and a free customized bike may be yours. Call 837-6693
for info.
A little rusty or a first-time bike commuter? Pima County Department
of Transportation is holding free bike safety classes for all
levels. Call 740-6403 for a class schedule.
Walk & Roll to School Day
Hey kids
and parents! Walk, skate, or ride your bike to school today and
do your share for healthy air. It is a terrific way to exercise
and meet other kids in the neighborhood. Remember to wear your
helmet when riding or skating. Ever heard of a walking school
bus? It’s the greatest and safest. Call
the Pima County Safe Routes to School Program at 205-8309 for
information.
Commute Another Way Day
Get to work a new way today. Try carpooling with a friend or
coworker, bicycling, walking, or riding Sun Tran to work. For
free carpool matching or a free 10-ride bus pass call Melissa
at Pima Association of Governments at 792-1093.
Clean
Air Contest
Take action for cleaner air and enter for
your chance to win a great prize. Carpool, take the bus, ride
your bike, walk, instead of driving from March 31 to April 30
and complete an entry form to enter the contest. View list of
prizes and enter at
www.tucsonaz.gov/cleanairdays. Entries
must be received by May 7, 2007 to be eligible. We will all win
with healthier air to breathe.
Bike
to the Zoo – 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Animals
need clean air too! Ride your bike to the Reid Park Zoo and
show your helmet to get FREE admission. Secured bicycle parking
provided inside the zoo. Then ride on over to
the “Clean Air Fair” in the afternoon.
Clean Air Fair – Noon
- 4 p.m.
Have
fun and enjoy FREE activities for all ages at Reid Park’s
Demeester Outdoor Performance Center. Tap your feet to great
live music including Jovert (TUSD Steel Drum Band) -- Batucaxé (Brazilian
percussion and dance), Round the House (traditional Irish
music), and Bad News Blues Band (award winning smoldering blues)!
See the Clean-Fueled Car and Truck Show featuring the ECOBUS
(hydrogen powered bus) to educate people about the importance
of renewable energy. Other clean-fueled vehicles will also be
on display.
Kids can get their face painted, enjoy puppet shows, story telling,
visit the Clean Air Bus with artwork and poems by local children
on display, and many other fun & free activities.
Environmentally-related information booths will be there to
help you do your share for the air, the environment, and to reduce
global warming. Of course, we offer free secured bike parking.
Food is available for purchase.
Sun Tran Free Ride Day
Get moving on
all Sun Tran routes at no charge today. And ride the bus to the
Fair at Reid Park for free (routes 7, 15, and 17 will get you
there)! Call Sun Tran’s Customer Service
Center at 792-9222 (628-1565 for persons with TDD equipment)
or visit the web site at
www.suntran.com for
route planning information.
Call 520.740.3947 or visit www.tucsonaz.gov/cleanairdays for more information on any of these activities.
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