Early on the morning of May 19, about two dozen sweaty cyclists gathered at the Hard Rock Café in Baltimore's Inner Harbor to celebrate the kick-off of Clean Commute Week. A few of them were cycling to work as their clean commute option, but a surprising number ride their bikes to work regularly. They were the advance guard for the hundreds of people who signed up to try an alternative to driving alone during the week of May 21-27. 

This year's fourth annual Clean Commute Week was the largest to date, with 50 percent more people than last year signing up. Based on information provided on registration forms, alternative commuting saved about 53,000 miles of vehicle travel in just one week. In addition to bicycling, people chose to use transit, share a ride or walk to work. 

Clean commuters were eligible to win prizes donated by generous sponsors: 

Members of the Clean Commute Week Partnership did their share to reduce congestion and clear the air. SHA printed Clean Commute Week posters, the Maryland Department of Transportation sponsored MDOT at the Mall, and the Mass Transit Administration donated transit passes and featured Clean Commute Week on its cable TV show. The Maryland Department of the Environment secured a booth at the Johns Hopkins Spring Festival, and put on a Clean Commute fair for its employees. The Transportation Steering Committee provided funding for staff support, while BMC staff coordinated Clean Commute Week activities. Last but not least, the region's rideshare coordinators promoted Clean Commute Week in their own areas.

Although Clean Commute Week comes but once a year, using an alternative way to get to work makes sense any time. Reducing the number of cars on the road reduces traffic congestion, saves time and aggravation on the highways, and reduces the vehicle emissions that contribute to air pollution. Everybody wins. 

If you haven't yet found a clean commute option, it's not too late to look into ridesharing, using transit, or even riding a bike. Then, when you hear that there's a Bad Air Alert, you'll be able to do your share to clear the air. 

Posted: August 7, 2000