Break Out Your Bike and Walking Shoes

image by Spencer T. used under Creative Commons license

The temperatures are rising, the sun is shining and spring is in the air. It’s time for walking and biking and all the benefits they bring, including improving both the air quality and your health.

Nearly 27 percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older do not get the amount of weekly exercise that the Center for Disease Control recommends. One common excuse: “It’s too hard to find the time.” Well, Clean Air NY has the solution! If you start biking or walking to work, you will get your exercise by doing something you have to do anyway – commuting! Not only will the exercise help you live a healthier life, but choosing these alternate forms of travel over driving will improve New York’s air quality, providing additional health benefits for everyone.

Biking to work is gaining popularity, especially in New York City! The number of people commuting by bicycle has risen 109 percent in the past four years. People who commute by bike also lose an average of 13 pounds during their first year – that’s more than a pound per month just going to work every day! Bike commuter Andrew Breck says, “I find that my five-mile bike ride to work is a great opportunity to breathe fresh air and give my heart a workout in the same amount of time that it would take me to get to work sitting on the crowded subway. Commuting by bike also saves me $100 on a monthly transit pass and another $100 on a monthly gym membership.”

Walking to work can be difficult to do, especially if you do not live close to your office. Clean Air NY recommends that you incorporate walking into your daily routine in other ways to reap the health benefits. Choose the stairs instead of the elevator, go for a stroll to pick up lunch or take an evening walk with a friend for some fresh air.

The best part? Whether you choose to bike or walk to work, they are both great for you and your environment!

Earth Day Has Dawned: How Are You Celebrating?

Our calendars salute April 22 as Earth Day! What can you do to commemorate the annual global event? Visit Clean Air NY at Earth Day NY’s EarthFair Outdoors at Grand Central Terminal today (4/22) and tomorrow (4/23) to meet Fresh, the Clean Air NY cloud mascot.

Clean Air NY has two new, simple ways for you to commemorate the day and to improve New York’s air quality. Join thousands of New Yorkers who are already making a difference in our air quality:

• Idea #1: Commit to cleaner air! Click here to pledge your support to reducing traffic congestion and to creating cleaner, healthier air. Watch our YouTube Video to see who has already committed to cleaner air.
  
  
• Idea #2: Measure your carbon footprint! Do you know how much carbon dioxide you and your family produces each year? Use this carbon emissions calculator to calculate your carbon footprint and to receive recommendations on how you can reduce those emissions with your own actions.

Clean Air NY Events for Earth Month

The first full week of April brings forth a celebration of Earth Month! Clean Air NY will participate in a bunch of Earth Month events about sustainability and environmental awareness. Here are some highlights, but we encourage you to visit the events section of our website for the full list!

Marist College Sustainability Day

April 14, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. – This will be Clean Air NY’s first time at Marist College’s Sustainability Day, and we’re excited to participate in its Earth Day activities this year. Sustainability Day will feature events focusing on environmental sustainability issues, including workshops, panel discussions, films, exhibits and keynote speakers. This year’s focus is “Sustainability…from ideas to action,” and the theme of how new ideas related to sustainability can make the transition from concept to reality will be highlighted throughout the day’s events.

Earth Day NY

April 22, 12 noon to 7 p.m., and April 23, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. – For four years, Clean Air NY has participated in Earth Day NY’s EarthFair at Grand Central, the biggest Earth Day celebration in New York City. This two-day festival of art, music and the environment is on Vanderbilt Avenue. Clean Air NY and our mascot, Fresh, are proud to join this celebration once again!

SUNY Stony Brook’s Earth Stock

April 29, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. – SUNY Stony Brook, a Clean Air NY Campus, has invited Clean Air NY back for the third year to participate in its annual Earth Stock event. Environmental organizations, other participants with an earth-friendly message and local schools will celebrate on the Academic Mall at the campus.