DEC, Parks Announce Second Annual Green Your Commute Day - May 16th

LongIsland.com

Collaboration Highlights Environmentally Friendly Ways to Commute to Work - Activities Include Lunchtime Bicycle Ride, Green Car Show, Raffles and Giveaways

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Albany, NY - May 14th, 2014 - The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is partnering with the State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (State Parks), the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York (DASNY), the Environmental Facilities Corporation (EFC), New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) and alternative transportation service providers for the Second Annual Green Your Commute Day in Albany, Friday, May 16. DEC is encouraging the public to take alternative transportation on Friday. The event, held in Albany's Tri-centennial Park on Broadway and Columbia Street from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m., will highlight environmentally friendly ways commuters can get to and from work such as carpooling, bicycling, walking and public transportation.

Green Your Commute Day brings together a collaboration of state agencies with the City of Albany, the Albany Parking Authority, Downtown Albany Business Improvement District (BID), vRide, Capital District Transportation Authority (CDTA), Capital District Transportation Committee (CDTC), Downtube Bicycle Works, Troy Bike Rescue, National Grid, HRRT (Helping Riders Realize Talent), Albany Bicycle Coalition, Hudson River Greenway, Parks & Trails New York, Employee Assistance Program and Public Employees Federation/encon. The event coincides with nationally recognized Annual Bike to Work Day, which encourages bicycle commuting as an environmentally friendly transportation alternative.

DEC Commissioner Martens will be among the cyclists biking to work. He will join Assemblymember Patricia Fahy on a ride from Delmar to downtown Albany.

DEC Commissioner Martens said, "Building on last year's successful event where we kept more than 3,480 pounds of CO2 from the air, DEC is excited to collaborate with so many entities that share a goal for a healthy environment. Not only does greening your commute reduce air and greenhouse gas emissions and reduce traffic congestion, but it can improve your overall fitness and save you money as well. I encourage employees from all over the Capital District to consider alternate transportation to work on Friday."
OPRHR Commissioner Rose Harvey said, "State Parks is pleased to join with DEC and our partners for a second year to encourage all to utilize greener transportation options such as walking, biking, carpooling, or using mass transit to and from your workplaces on Green Your Commute Day. Small steps made on even this one day can collectively make a big difference for the environment - and it can be fun, too."

DASNY President Paul T. Williams said, "DASNY is pleased to participate in Green Your Commute Day with DEC and OPRHP to encourage our workforce to green their commute. DASNY is not only committed to designing and building beautiful and sustainable social infrastructure for our clients, but also to raising awareness of the many ways we can all improve the quality of our lives while reducing our environmental impacts."

NYSERDA President & CEO John B. Rhodes said, "Green Your Commute Day offers a great example of how we can all help reduce the state's environmental footprint one mile at a time by using alternative forms of transportation. Under Governor Cuomo's leadership, NYSERDA is advancing the clean energy economy with a wide range of initiatives including this particular initiative which encourages individuals to walk, ride or take the bus in their daily activities."

EFC President & CEO Matthew Driscoll said, "For many of our employees, almost every day is a 'Green Commute Day.' Others enjoy the challenge of 'Green Your Commute Day' which opens everyone's eyes to greener ways to get to work."

Lunch time activities in Tri-Centennial Park will include a free bike clinic and lunchtime bike ride, CDTA hybrid bus tour and mass transit information display, a green car show including electric vehicles, and prize raffles for all participants. Activities will take place rain or shine.

To plan your organization's Green your Commute Day activities, you may register for the event on DEC's website.

For more information on how to participate, contact Kevin Carpenter, DEC, at kjcarpen@gw.dec.state.ny.us, or Bill Preston, OPRHP at bill.preston@parks.ny.gov.