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Celebrate Earth Day 2006

Walk, Bike, or Share a Ride

Earth Day 2006 is on Saturday, April 22, commemorating the day that many historians recognize as the birth of the modern environmental movement. Since the first Earth Day in 1970, people around the world have sought to celebrate the planet through a variety of individual and community activities. But Earth Day is about more than observing the beauty and vitality of nature; it is also about renewing a commitment to saving our living planet.

While every day needs to be Earth Day, people choose to celebrate a day that brings them together and provides an opportunity to recommit to protecting and strengthening the environment.
 

Making a commitment to commuting in a carpool or by biking, walking, and teleworking helps the environment. Using fewer cars means less pollution, more conservation of habitat, and less demand for new roads and parking lots. Using fewer cars also means less production of greenhouse gases, a major contributor of climate change. Limiting our consumption of gasoline is one way to help the environment and to help lower the nation’s dependency on oil.

This year on Earth Day, try leaving your car at home and enjoy the benefits of using another form of transportation.

About Us_______________________________________

Barbara Donerly, NNTA Board Member

Barbara Donerly, RA has served as a New North Transportation Alliance Board Member since 1994. She is an Assistant Director at Facilities Planning and Construction at the University of South Florida. Ms. Donerly is a graduate of the University of Houston, magna cum laude, a registered architect, a member of the Society for College and University Planners, the American Planning Association, and a charter Advisory Board Member of the University North Transportation Alliance. She has been with USF since 1992.

Her work includes development of the Campus Master Plan and she has worked on almost every campus improvement project in one capacity or another. As a result of her work on the plan, she is also involved in other campus plan issues such as conversion of enrollment growth to facilities needs, planning of academic and support facilities, infrastructure, traffic, transit, parking, athletic & recreational facilities, housing, sustainability, safety/security, conservation, landscape, project budgeting, impact to the surrounding community, and many other issues.

New Park-And-Ride Option Available

for HARTline Routes

Commuters riding HARTline routes 51X and 52LX will be able to leave their cars at a new park-and-ride located at CrossRoads Community Church. The routes will offer morning and evening service Monday through Friday to downtown or the University area. The new park-and-ride is located at 26211 County Line Road in Wesley Chapel about two miles west of Bruce B. Downs Boulevard. HARTline service will no longer be provided to Seven Oaks Plaza.

The fare for route 51X is $2.50 each way. Buses will leave Cross Roads daily at 6:15 a.m. and 6:45 a.m. and return to the lot at 5:42 p.m. and 6:27 p.m. Because route 52LX is a limited express, the cost is $1.50 each way. Buses leave Cross Roads at 6:15 a.m. and 6:35 a.m. and return to the lots at 5:40 and 6:25 p.m. Route 52LX stops at the University Area Transit Center and the University of South Florida (USF). The USF U-Pass is valid on the 52LX offering free service to students showing a valid USF identification card, with USF faculty and staff paying 25 cents per ride. For further information, visit www.hartline.org.

Refer a Friend Campaign

Offers Free Movie Tickets

Participants of the Emergency Ride Home program offered through Bay Area Commuter Services (BACS) can refer a friend to the program and receive free movie tickets. Employees who carpool, vanpool, ride the bus, walk or bike to work two or more days per week qualify for an Emergency Ride Home. The Emergency Ride Home program insures that commuters will not be stranded at work during an emergency when they have used a transportation option. The Emergency Ride Home can be used for an illness, a family emergency, for unexpected overtime or other approved emergencies. After completing the official application process, approved members receive a registration number and instructions for using the program. Members are allowed up to eight free taxi rides home from work in the case of an emergency, illness or unscheduled overtime. Some restrictions apply.

During the Refer a Friend campaign, friends who complete the Emergency Ride Home registration process and meet the requirements for the program will receive two free AMC movie tickets. The member who refers the new participant will also receive two free tickets. A maximum of four tickets per person, per month will be awarded. The campaign runs through June 30, 2006. For more information, call the New North Transportation Alliance at 813-974-9799 or visit www.newnorthalliance.org.

May is national bike month. Cycling events for riders of all abilities will take place across the nation during the month of May. In its 47th year, and timed to coincide with the arrival of warmer weather, the event has inspired countless bike rides, safety inspections, commuter challenges, ribbon cuttings, “share the road” promotions, and other valid celebrations of cycling in communities across the nation.

This year, Friday, May 19 is designated as “Bike to Work” day. This day provides a great opportunity for any cyclist to dust off their bike, get a tune-up and ride with other cyclists to work.

The Tampa Bay Commuter published by Bay Area Commuter Services provides a listing of current bicycle pools for those looking to bike to work in a group. If you are interested in finding a bicycle pool, visit www.tampabayrideshare.org/

commuterpgms.htm. For more information, please contact the New North Transportation Alliance at 813.974.9799 or www.newnorthalliance.org.

Want to save money & make better use of your time by carpooling or vanpooling-
but don't know anyone to share the commute with?
We may be able to help! Join the regional rideshare database by following the link on the Commuter page of our website, www.newnorthalliance.org,  or by calling 813-974-9799 to speak with a New North Transportation Alliance representative.