RTA Encourages Commuters To Celebrate Earth Day, Win Prizes

From Riverside Transit Agency: What are you doing to help the environment? That’s the question Riverside Transit Agency (RTA) is asking its customers this week as it inches towards Earth Day on April 22.

All week long, RTA will take to social media to promote the environmental benefits of riding the bus, and ask customers what they are doing to make a difference. Whether they are catching the bus, biking, walking or ridesharing, customers who respond with the best answers will earn a free Starbucks gift card and RTA goodie bag. To participate in the contest, simply connect with RTA on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram and send us your comments or photos.

“Public transportation has always been good for the environment,” said RTA Chairman of the Board Art Welch. “Pledging to be green, even for a day, focuses attention on how simple changes to our routines can make a big difference.”

Earth Day is an annual event that helps to raise awareness about environmental issues while providing tips for protecting resources at work, at play and at home. The first Earth Day, celebrated nearly 48 years ago, on April 22, 1970, activated 20 million Americans from all walks of life and is widely credited with launching the modern environmental movement. The passage of the landmark Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, Endangered Species Act and many other ground-breaking environmental laws soon followed. One of the easiest ways to participate in Earth Day is riding the bus. In fact, one of RTA’s large eco-friendly buses is capable of taking more than 40 cars and their harmful emissions off the road.

Nationwide, public transportation use reduces carbon emissions by 37 million metric tons annually. This is equivalent to Washington, DC; New York City; Atlanta; Denver; and Los Angeles combined stopping electricity use.

Riding the bus is not just good for the environment. It is also good for your bank account. Using public transportation is the quickest way to beat pain at the pump and a two-person household can save, on the average, more than $10,000 a year by downsizing to one car, according to the American Public Transportation Association.

The Riverside Transit Agency provides public transportation for Western Riverside County, operating 37 local fixed routes, nine CommuterLink express routes and Dial-A-Ride service. RTA’s service area spans 2,500 square miles, among the largest in the nation. For route and schedule information, contact RTA at (951) 565-5002 or go to RiversideTransit.com.

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