Spare the Air Every Day Encourages Carpooling

SAN FRANCISCO, CA, Jul 07 (MARKET WIRE) --
Today, the Bay Area Air Quality Management District is launching a new
effort for the Spare the Air campaign encouraging the public to carpool
or rideshare to reduce the number of single occupancy vehicles on our
highways.

Transportation is the largest source of smog pollution in the Bay Area and
the region's highway congestion is the second worst in the nation.

"We need to reduce the amount of single occupancy vehicles if we are going
to make a dent in improving air pollution," said Lisa Fasano, BAAQMD
communications director. "Any ride is worth sharing -- even once a week
would dramatically reduce the number of cars on the road, reduce time
spent commuting, reduce money spent on gas, and reduce bad air in our
lungs."

Every day, Bay Area commuters drive alone on more than 3.5 million trips
to and from work. Ridesharing can dramatically reduce the number of single
occupancy vehicle trips and improve air quality. Spare the Air encourages
every person to do their part to maintain healthy air in the Bay Area by
sharing a ride instead of commuting alone.

The goal of the campaign is to reduce the number of single occupancy
vehicles on the road and educate the public about the benefit of
ridesharing and the resources available.

With ride sharing, less is more:

-- More cars in the HOV lane: During peak commuting hours, only 17
percent of vehicles on Bay Area roads are able to travel in the HOV
lanes. This year's Spare the Air campaign aims to increase the use of HOV
lanes.

-- More time saved in your commute: On the Bay Bridge Toll Plaza alone,
using the HOV lane saves each vehicle an average of 20 minutes. Carpoolers
can save anywhere from 5-20 minutes by carpooling across other Bay Area
bridges.

-- More savings on gas money: Given a 30-mile roundtrip commute, the
average commuter will save about $222 a month, or $2,663 annually (Based
on a car that achieves 20 mpg, at $3 per gallon).

-- More time for yourself: Carpool riders gain time back by being able to
read the paper, check email on their handheld device or simply relax on
their commute to work.

-- Healthier air: During the summer months, ground-level ozone is the
pollutant of concern that creates smog. Because cars and trucks are the
largest source of smog pollution in the Bay Area, reducing the number of
single occupancy vehicles is healthier for us all.

How to Spare the Air

There are many ridesharing and carpool programs already in place. One way
to begin carpooling is to join an organized rideshare using the free 511
RideMatch Service through 511.org. Commuters can use this quick-match
service to view ride options that work for their schedules and follow a
few easy steps to connect with other commuters and share a ride.

Another option on 511 RideMatch Service is vanpooling through 511.org. Go
to 511.org to view a map of the more than 150 free Park & Ride lots to
meet up with a rideshare and find available seats in existing vanpools.
Or, start a new vanpool instead of driving or riding alone.

East Bay residents can also tap into the Casual Carpool network. "Casual
carpools" or "ad hoc carpools" are informal carpools that form when
drivers and passengers meet -- without specific prior arrangement -- at
designated locations. There are more than 20 existing locations
throughout the East Bay, which are listed on
http://www.ridenow.org/carpool. Drivers drop passengers off at Fremont
and Howard Streets near the Transbay Terminal in downtown San Francisco.

Car ownership isn't required to rideshare, as it's also possible to Spare
the Air as a passenger. Options exist to fit any schedule and comfort
levels. If commuters can't rideshare every day, the Spare the Air campaign
encourages people to try for even just once or twice a week and enjoy the
benefits of a smarter commute while helping protect the Bay Area's air
quality.

You can also visit the following link for a quick video tutorial on the
ridesharing and carpool programs mentioned above
http://www.youtube.com/bayareasparetheair.

ABOUT THE BAY AREA AIR QUALITY MANAGEMENT DISTRICT

The Bay Area Air Quality Management District (www.baaqmd.gov) is the
regional agency chartered with protecting air quality in the Bay Area. For
more information about Spare the Air, visit www.sparetheair.org.

Sign up for email AirAlerts through the EnviroFlash system at
http://baaqmdsparetheair.enviroflash.info/. With EnviroFlash AirAlerts,
you will be notified when the Bay Area experiences a Spare the Air Day.
You can also choose to receive daily air pollution forecasts.

Media Contacts:
Kristine Roselius
BAAQMD Public Information Officer
415-749-4647
C: 415-516-5419
kroselius@baaqmd.gov

Mollie Petersen
MS&L for BAAQMD & Spare the Air
415-293-2806
C: 206-714-9754
mollie.petersen@mslworldwide.com

Copyright 2009, Market Wire, All rights reserved.

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