April 6, 2009

Contact: Margo O’Hara
margo@activetrans.org
312.427.3325 x 224

Advocates help Chicagoland clean up its transportation act

Biking, walking and transit advocates will help spruce things up this Earth Day at area celebrations by getting the word out about clean and safe transportation.

“Let’s clean up our transportation act! We can use Earth Day as an excuse to replace just one car trip with biking, walking or transit.” said Rob Sadowsky, executive director of the Active Transportation Alliance. “A walk to the store or a train ride to the movies are ways that we can keep the air clean and our bodies healthy.”

Transportation contributes to almost 30 percent of total carbon emissions, according to the U.S. EPA. The good news is that many times, individuals can use other modes that have less (or zero) carbon footprint.

From family bike rides to Earth Day festivals, stop by and visit with Active Trans staff and volunteers to learn how biking, walking and transit celebrates our Earth:

April 16
Earth Day Festival at Sears Centre in Hoffman Estates 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

April 18
Palos Park Earth Day Bike Ride at Metra station at 123rd St in Palos Park 10 a.m.

April 22
Walking School Buses at Willow School, 1804 Willow Road, Homewood 7:30-8:15 a.m.
Park and Walk at Millenium School, 18211 Aberdeen, Homewood 8-8:40 a.m.
Good Neighbor Parade Nathan Hale, Lansing (part of Good Neighbor Week!)
4th Annual Earth Day Celebration, 77 W Wacker Dr., Chicago 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

April 25
North Lake Shore Earth Day 1050 W. Sheridan Road 9 a.m. to 4:40 p.m. (Active Trans' Jason Jenkins will be speaking from 1:30-2:30 p.m.

April 29
Park and Walk at James Hart School, 18220 Morgan, Homewood 7:05-7:45 a.m.
Bike trains at Churchill School, 1300 W. 190th St., Homewood 7:30-8:15 a.m.

See more events at: www.activetrans.org/earthday.

The Active Transportation Alliance is a non-profit, member-based advocacy organization that works to make bicycling, walking and public transit so safe, convenient and fun that we will achieve a significant shift from environmentally harmful, sedentary travel to clean, active travel. The organization builds a movement around active transportation, encourages physical activity, increases safety and builds a world-class transportation network. Formerly the Chicagoland Bicycle Federation, the Active Transportation Alliance is North America’s largest transportation advocacy organization, supported by more than 6,000 members, 1,000 volunteers and 35 full-time staff. For more information on the Active Transportation Alliance, visit www.activetrans.org or call 312.427.3325

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