Starting on Earth Day, Green Town Los Altos is sponsoring the third annual Drive Less Challenge. The Challenge is a fun competition to encourage residents to explore alternatives to driving solo in their gas-powered vehicles.
Alternative Transportation Ideas The Challenge is aimed at getting residents to think about their daily transportation habits using gas powered vehicles so that they come up with other green options for getting around. Almost everyone can think about that quick trip to the supermarket for a loaf of bread or the half mile trek to school to “drive and drop” the kids. Both of these examples are good targets for driving less. Especially with the beautiful weather, why wouldn’t you consider walking or cycling instead? Of course there are more impactful changes that you could make. How far is your commute to work? Is it 1-10 miles? Could cycling be an option? Do you commute up or down the Peninsula close to Caltrain or the light rail? What a relaxing way to commute that also offers some spare time to read the newspaper, or a book, or just to get ready for the day by checking emails. Getting to the train station could also include a short bike ride and with 2 bike-cars on trains now, it is a great option.
Why Drive Less? There are many great reasons for driving less. Just to name a few, you can save gas and money, get and stay fit, reduce carbon pollution, traffic congestion and make the streets safer for cyclists and pedestrians.
Bicycles. Photo Joel Bartlett
How to Sign-Up To make the challenge fun and easy, we have made the pledge process simple. Residents simply pledge to drive less during our challenge period April 22 – May 5 by registering on our website, DriveLessChallengeLA.com. You can choose from a wide range of green transportation options including walking, cycling, taking public transit, or carpooling instead of driving alone. At the end of the 2-week challenge, check back in via our on-line survey and tell us how you did. Participants will be entered in to a drawing for a whole host of fabulous prizes donated by local merchants. These prizes will be awarded at our Bike! Walk! Win! party that will be held on May 9 (Bike to Work Day) from 6-8 at the Costume Bank in Downtown Los Altos.
Other Ways to Win Share your story! Let other residents know what you are doing to Green your transportation. Post the story on GreenTown Los Altos Facebook page. Prizes will be awarded for 1. Most inspiring, 2. Most original, and 3. Most impactful green transportation story.
Making our Kids Green This year we have set a goal to get our elementary and middle schools involved. Los Altos and Los Altos Hills schools will compete for “The Greenest School” title by logging the greatest percentage of kids using alternative green transportation, via a poll that will be taken during the challenge period. We all know that good habits start young and Los Altos Schools are renown for its well-rounded educational curriculum. If our children are encouraged to walk or bike to school instead of being victims of the deadly “Drive and Drop” syndrome they will be more fit and hopefully make it a life long habit.
Results Last year over 170 Los Altos & Los Altos Hills residents helped us win the Peninsula wide challenge by logging over 10,000 green miles by taking the train or bus, cycling, walking or carpooling. They prevented about 6600 pounds of CO2 from entering the atmosphere. Even though there is no Peninsula-wide challenge this year, we hope that Los Altos and Los Altos Hills residents will continue their winning ways by doubling participation and extending carbon savings this year.
Make a pledge to drive less today by registering your pledge to drive less on DriveLessChallengeLA.org.
