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September
28,
2005 |
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Metro Rideshare Challenges Angelinos to Beat High Gas Prices, Ease Traffic Congestion, Air Pollution
During Rideshare Week
(Oct. 3-7) Metro is challenging commuters and others to share a ride and
save money on gas while easing traffic and air pollution. Just
carpooling or taking public transit once a week will save the average
commuter 125 gallons of gas a year. Besides an expanding network of public transit service, Metro offers an array of other rideshare programs including a service that matches commuters with carpool partners and vanpools. Incentives such as Starbucks gift cards are offered for trying these rideshare options. (Restrictions apply.) Metro also offers
special pass programs for employers and institutions such as colleges
and universities. For information, call 1-(800)-COMMUTE (option # 3) or
visit CommuteSmart.info for details on carpools and public transit
options available throughout Southern California. Southland commuters
are urged to participate in the radio campaign "Pick a Day, Any Day"
and join a carpool, or vanpool, or take the bus or train, walk, ride a
bicycle or telecommute. "There
has never been a better time than now to start sharing the ride!"
said David Sutton, Director of Metro Commute Services. "In the wake
of Hurricanes Rita and Katrina, President Bush is urging us to conserve
energy by carpooling or taking transit whenever possible. Let's share
the ride and show the nation that Southern Californians are serious
about helping out!" With Gulf states'
fuel production crippled by hurricanes Katrina and Rita, President
George W. Bush urged Americans to carpool and use transit whenever
possible. Participation in
Metro Rideshare programs grows every year. More than 1,000 worksites
with 250 or more employees participate in Metro Commute Service
programs, representing a 68 percent increase within the last three
years. An additional 1,200 businesses with less then 250 employees also
participate in these programs. Metro's Rideshare
programs are not limited to employers. Metro and UCLA will announce the
debut of the UCLA Go! Metro Pass program for UCLA students and employees
during the school's Transportation Fair Thursday, Oct. 6. The new Go
Metro Pass will give UCLA students the convenience of an unlimited Metro
Bus and Metro Rail pass at significantly reduced fares. UCLA is subsidizing
half off the cost of this program to make it very affordable. Metro School Pool is
a service offering free, voluntary and confidential matching service to
parents interested in organizing school carpools. The program is open to
students in all participating public and private elementary, middle and
high schools in Los Angeles County. Parents share the task of driving
students to and from school. Details on all these
programs are available by calling 1-(800)-COMMUTE (option # 3) and also
by visiting Metro's website at Metro.net, which offers an interactive
trip planner for those opting to share a ride by using the Metro Bus and
Metro Rail system. Metro-134 |