SAN JOSE, Calif., April 19 -- The Bay Area Air Quality Management District issued the following news releases:
With throngs of their peers cheering them on, dozens of San Jose State University students were demonstrating alternative modes of transportation today at "Bay to Brakes," an Earth Week Spare the Air event to highlight simple actions that are good for air quality and health.
Brought together by the Bay Area Air Quality Management District and San Jose State University's Environmental Resource Center, teams of five racing on Big Wheels, scooters, roller skates, Kanga-Balls and wheelbarrows sped around the Associated Students house on the Paseo de San Carlos with the winning team receiving gift cards for the Student Center.
"So many of San Jose State students use alternative transportation - via transit, bike, carpool or even scooters and roller skates - and we wanted to show people throughout the Bay Area how fun and easy it can be to Spare the Air," said Nick Ajluni, Environmental Resource Center Transportation Development. "It's really up to us to make a difference."
Of the more than 33,000 students and staff at San Jose State University, more than 46 percent already take alternative transportation to school. Because of the school's convenient proximity to transit, 31.5 percent take VTA and 4.5 percent take other forms of transit such as ACE Train and CalTrain. The remaining students and staff commute via walking/scooter/skateboard (12.5 percent); carpool or drop-off (7.4 percent); and biking (3.3 percent).
"San Jose State students not only 'walk the talk,' they did a great job showcasing the fun and social aspects of using alternative transportation," said Kristine Roselius, Air District public information officer. "Driving remains the number one source of air pollution in the Bay Area, so these students' efforts to reduce trips make a difference!"
In the Bay Area, cars and trucks are the number one source of air pollution, contributing to more than half of total air pollution. On the average weekday, there are 3 - 4 million cars on Bay Area roadways.
For commuting and transportation information at San Jose State University, please visit the Associated Students Transportation Solutions at www.ts.sjsu.edu.
The Bay Area Air Quality Management District (www.baaqmd.gov) is the regional agency responsible for protecting air quality in the nine-county Bay Area.
TNS 23SQ 110502-JF78-3367155 StaffFurigay
