This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Politics & Government

Spare the Air Summer Season Underway

This year the Bay Area Air Quality Management District is focusing on urging residents to carpool.

Our sizzling spring weather is coinciding with the Bay Area Air Quality Management District's launch of its 2013 Spare the Air season.

The focus of this year's campaign is lone drivers, according to Aaron Richardson, district spokesman.

"People driving alone are the main sources of pollution," he said. "We have to work together in ways to reduce pollution."

Find out what's happening in Burlingame-Hillsboroughwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Working together means rethinking your commute, he advises. Finding a better way to work by using transit, car or van pools, biking or walking are much better for the environment than driving a car alone, officials say.

The district cites recent census data that suggests that more than 37 percent of the Bay Area employees commute alone to work each day, spending an average of 58 minutes on Bay Area roads.

Find out what's happening in Burlingame-Hillsboroughwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

With transportation related air pollution being the region's largest air pollution challenge, it is necessary to rethink commutes, choose clean vehicles and exploring options other than driving alone, according to Air District Executive Officer Jack Broadbent.

In summer months with so many cars on the road, pollution in hot weather temperatures causes unhealthy air, prompting the district to issue a Spare the Air alert to warn the public about the health impacts poor air can have on children, the elderly and those with heart or respiratory conditions, according to district officials.

But there is good news -- a recent air district survey indicated that drivers are more likely to seek out alternative commute methods if encouraged to do so by their employers.

Officials with the air district plan to roll out a new outreach campaign this summer that will encourage both employers and employees to seek out new ways to share, shorten or change their commutes to reduce driving alone, the district announced.

Copyright © 2013 by Bay City News, Inc. -- Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited.

 

Also on Patch:

Boy Arrested for Threatening to Bomb Burlingame School

Parents Reassured at Threatened School

Update: Berkeley Cop Stabbed in Wild Burlingame Bar Brawl

Bed Bugs Discovered in Starbucks

 



We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?