Keeping a New Year's Resolution with Commuting Solutions

Three of the top 10 New Year’s resolutions, according to USA.gov, are to lose weight, save money and reduce stress. But, research shows only 12 percent of Americans actually reach their goals every year. Maybe it’s because losing weight can cost money, and saving money causes stress, and stress may cause weight gain. So what can Georgians pledge to do that will help them reach all their goals in 2009?

The Clean Air Campaign suggests using a commute alternative instead of driving alone. It’s that easy.

“More than 8,500 commuters in metro Atlanta signed up for one of our programs in 2008 and gave clean commuting a try,” said Kevin Green, executive director of The Clean Air Campaign. “Choosing to carpool, vanpool, take transit, walk, bicycle or telework can help commuters reduce stress, save money, possibly get fit and even earn rewards through our programs.”

Participation in Commuter Rewards, a suite of incentive programs that rewards clean commuting with cash and prizes, rose by almost 300 percent during 2008.

“They may join to earn rewards, but the motivation for people to stay in our programs over the long term is the quality of life benefits that come from using commute alternatives,” continued Green.

Not only does clean commuting help reduce air pollution and traffic congestion, but it also saves money on gas, parking and vehicle maintenance. For those whose resolution it is to save money, carpooling cuts commuting costs in half, while vanpooling and riding transit cost just a fraction of what it costs to drive alone to and from work. Teleworking, walking and bicycling cost nearly or absolutely nothing.

In addition to saving money, commuters who walk, bicycle or take transit find a built-in way to exercise during the workday. Using active commute alternatives like these has been linked to reduced obesity in countries around the world by recent research and has helped metro Atlanta commuters like Lois Fletcher get in shape.

“After I began walking to and from the transit station, the weight dropped off,” said Lois. “I feel great, and walking really clears your mind and reduces stress.”

Reduced stress is one of the most unexpected and rewarding benefits of clean commuting. Being able to eliminate the commute altogether by teleworking, breezing past halted cars on transit, sharing a good conversation in a carpool and getting some reading in while riding in a vanpool have proven time and again to reduce the stress felt by the solo commuter.

“I started to let MARTA do the driving and realized that my blood pressure dropped after two years of it being high,” said Geneva Wilson, a commuter out of Stone Mountain. “More than anything, I am not stressed when I get to work, and I have time to read, go over paperwork or just relax and enjoy the ride.”

The many benefits and ease of using alternatives to driving alone make clean commuting the perfect solution to a New Year’s resolution. There’s no better time than the new year to give a new commute a try. Whether the goal is to get in shape, balance the budget or reduce stress, The Clean Air Campaign can help. Just log on to CleanAirCampaign.com for information on every type of commute alternative. Then register for Cash for Commuters and get paid up to $100 for trying a clean commute. 2009 could be a new year and a “new you” with a new commute to thank.


About The Clean Air Campaign
The Clean Air Campaign is a not-for-profit organization that works with Georgia’s employers, commuters and schools to encourage actions that result in less traffic congestion and better air quality. To accomplish this goal, The Clean Air Campaign, along with its associate organizations, partners with more than 1,450 employers to create custom commute options programs; and annually helps thousands of commuters find commute alternatives that work for them, providing financial incentives to get them started. The Clean Air Campaign also protects public health by issuing Smog Alerts and empowers students, parents and teachers to play a positive role in reducing traffic and cleaning the air through a multi-faceted education program reaching elementary, middle and high schools.

Each day, these programs reduce 1.2 million miles of vehicle travel and keep 600 tons of pollution out of the air we breathe. For more information, call 1-877-CLEANAIR (1-877-253-2624) or visit www.CleanAirCampaign.com.