Take Transit to the Slopes

image by bokur.net used under Creative Commons license

This winter, many New Yorkers are hitting the slopes at the region’s premier ski and snowboard resorts. According to the National Ski Areas Association, New York State has more winter sport resorts than any other state! Even better, some of these resorts are accessible by mass transit from the New York metro area. Taking transit to the slopes instead of driving eliminates air pollution from vehicle travel, thus improving air quality throughout the region.

Thunder Ridge has been hosting skiers and snowboarders since 1948. The resort, just one hour north of New York City, provides a free shuttle from the Patterson stop on the Metro-North service. Purchase a Thunder Ski Package ticket from any Metro-North ticket vending machine to get a discounted fare and lift ticket! Find out more.

Slightly farther north, in the Catskill Mountains, are the Windham and Hunter mountain resorts. The Adirondack Trailways bus company serves both locations with buses from the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. Visit its site for timetables, fares and more details about bus routes. Both resorts also have independent bus companies serving their locations as well. Here are the lists for both Hunter and Windham. Here’s a link to the Port Authority site as well.

Transporting ski and snowboard equipment using mass transit is easy. The trains are equipped with overhead storage racks, and the buses have cargo space beneath them. If you are unable to take transit, carpooling is another great way to reduce air pollution while traveling to the region’s slopes. If you do have to drive by yourself, make sure you follow our tips for drivers so you can still help limit the amount of air pollution produced by your trip.

Safe travels and happy riding!

Avoid Winter’s Driving Challenges with Alternate Ways to Travel

image by Horia Varlan used under Creative Commons license

Winter storms can create challenges on our roads, more so than at any other time of the year. Using mass transit is a great alternative to driving if you have to go out in inclement weather. By taking these options instead of driving during winter storms, you can help make the commuting safer. Fewer vehicles on our streets and roadways allow snow and ice removal crews more room to operate, lower the odds of collisions and even help reduce air pollution. You can get to and from your destinations with less stress and be more productive in your daily tasks.

Another good choice for an employee, if you have an arrangement with your employer, is to work remotely. It can be a smarter idea, especially during this season. Technology ensures that the work can get done and you’ll also contribute to cleaner air, less traffic congestion and a healthier environment.

No matter what the weather, before you go, find out what you need to know through http://www.511ny.org/ to learn the latest and most accurate information about all traffic, travel and transit conditions.

We All Have the Right to Breathe Cleaner Air

image by Mike Licht used under Creative Commons license

The United States commemorates the January 15, 1929, birth date of civil rights pioneer Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with a national holiday on the third Monday in January each year that recognizes his contributions to human rights causes around the world. In honor of Dr. King, this blog explores why Clean Air NY believes we all have the right to breathe cleaner air and outlines some steps being taken to make this a reality for all New Yorkers.

Poor air quality has been linked to a range of respiratory issues, including asthma. While other health issues are linked directly to behaviors we can control, such as exercising more to reduce cholesterol, we don’t have as much influence over the air we breathe. Short of moving to a new location, the best way to combat the health risks associated with breathing polluted air is to do your part to maintain good air quality in your region.

Fortunately, federal and local governments are putting pollution-reducing measures in place to help New Yorkers have clean air to breathe year-round. Last year, we covered some examples of both: Check out our history of the federal Clean Air Act and our case study of the pedestrian plazas in Midtown Manhattan.

While government initiatives will go a long way toward improving air quality in the New York metro area, we also must do our part. Using alternate forms of transportation is one of the best ways to reduce air pollution, so take mass transit or carpool to your destination whenever possible. For weekly updates with more tips about improving air quality, subscribe to our blog. You can use RSS, the “Join this site” button in the right column of the page, or just press CTRL + D (CMD + D on a Mac) to bookmark this site and make sure to visit us again soon!