For one day, ride transit and experience for yourself all the benefits of not driving alone to and from work every day. You can relax on your commute and save money. In fact, the average metro Atlantan can save $1,500 a year on gas and car expenses and keep 2.6 tons of pollution out of the air by riding transit a few times a week. Take the pledge to Dump the Pump to win an Amazon gift card and save money on your commute to and from work.

Even this car wants to the Dump the Pump. Find out why...

What could motivate people to take transit more than a free iPad Mini? Making them run across Atlanta via MARTA deciphering clues in 90 degree weather. That’s what.

Kicking off Dump the Pump week (June 17-21, 2013), Scavenger Hunt Atlanta and MARTA threw their Dump the Pump DASH on Saturday, June 15, 2013. This scavenger hunt consisted of over 40 teams of families, commuters, and students who all worked to solve riddles consisting of facts about local businesses located near MARTA stations, collect facts about various communities, and perform wacky tasks like “Doing the Dirty Bird on the Big Bird at the Georgia Dome”. Teams fought for an array of prizes including a battery and solar powered charger, a solar powered backpack, and the grand prize, an Apple iPad Mini. My team “Single Tracking," took third place while a group of Georgia Tech students named, Team “Yellow Jackets," took first prize.

The scavenger hunt was a huge success and allowed a lot of commuters to see sides of Atlanta that were never explored before. I would have never known that East Point Station had a pizza parlor with a keyhole in it or that the original location of Spelman and Morehouse Colleges was Friendship Baptist Church. A learning experience and a promotional tool for taking MARTA to work, the scavenger hunt served its purpose of encouraging commuters to try transit.

Now it's your turn - pledge to Dump the Pump at least one day this week and try transit. By pledging, you have the chance of winning an Amazon gift card. Get more by driving less.

Bakari Height is an Outreach Intern with The Clean Air Campaign. A recent graduate of Georgia State University and current City Planning graduate student at Georgia Tech, he is no stranger to transportation demand management, transit being his forte.  He has served on many transportation organizations, such as Georgians for Better Transit, Citizens for Progressive Transit, Atlantans Building Leadership Experience, and Partnership for Southern Equity. Bakari enjoys traveling around Atlanta on MARTA and on bike, and tinkering with the latest technologies. 

Have you ever been in a relationship that just got so stressful and expensive, you wondered whether it was worth it? What about your relationship with your car? The traffic, the repairs, the constant trips to the gas pump. . . it might be time to re-evaluate what you’re getting from the relationship.

If you’re ready for a commute that gives you something instead of just taking, try transit during Dump the Pump, June 17-21. This week-long event has a number of ways to make you feel better about your daily commute:

• Pledge to take transit at least one day during Dump the Pump and you’re entered into a drawing for one of 25 $10 Amazon gift cards.
• If transit looks like it could be a long-term commute relationship, you can sign up to earn cash and other rewards from Georgia Commute Options.
• Stick with transit for the long haul and you could save thousands of dollars a year on commute costs. In fact, the average metro Atlanta commuter spends roughly $4,000 annually getting to and from work.
• Riding transit can also save you stress as you let someone else do the driving while you read, listen to music or catch up on some sleep.
• You might even shed a few pounds, since transit riders take approximately 30 percent more steps per day than their drive-alone commuting counterparts.

Dump the Pump is the perfect time to see if transit is a match for you, and Georgia Commute Options is here to help simplify the process. Go to GACommuteOptions.com/DumpThePump and pledge to take transit during this week. Remember, you’ll have a chance to win one of 25 Amazon gift cards worth $10 each.

While you’re on the website, you’ll have the opportunity to browse a variety of resources to help make the switch to transit easier. Concerned that public transportation is too confusing or time-consuming? The site features everything from links to your local transit providers to a commute calculator to articles on transit tips and tricks.

You can also check out Georgia Commute Options’ Facebook, Twitter and YouTube pages to stay informed about the latest happenings in the transit world.

So take the pledge to dump the pump. It might be the best breakup you’ve ever experienced.

Vanpoolooza 2013 has continued to be a success at the open house events Downtown and in Buckhead.

The Downtown event was held by representatives from Central Atlanta Progress, The Clean Air Campaign, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, V-Ride and Douglas County Rideshare at the Georgia Freight Depot.

Both current and prospective riders came to learn about the benefits of vanpooling and met with vanpool providers to get more people to join their van or start a new vanpool.

The Buckhead Open House was this morning at Two Alliance Center. Star94 helped get the party started with games and prizes and representatives from BATMA and The Clean Air Campaign helped the current and prospective vanpoolers get in touch with the right vanpool providers.

There's just one more Vanpoolooza Open House left so if you're interested in joining or starting a vanpool, or want to add some additional riders to your current vanpool, check out what's in store at the last event.

“If you’d like, ride a bike, it’s better for the city. Spinning wheels, spinning wheels, spinning wheels...” -Modern Skirts, N.Y. Song

Like many, when I think of summertime, I think of being outdoors, concerts, Braves games, and of a thriving Atlanta. During May, the city that I love comes alive with the excitement of activity and the bustle of Atlantans partaking in fun events. What an amazing time of year and experience!

Also, what better time than now to utilize our city’s resources and green commuting options to partake in summer events?

Let’s review the facts: Clean commuting reduces traffic, improves air quality, and helps you save on gas, wear and tear on your vehicle, and parking fees. Clean commuting also provides you with the convenience of often arriving at your destination more conveniently than if you had driven alone. For instance, when taking MARTA to Braves games, fans are able to take the train to the 5 Points Station and transfer to a MARTA shuttle, delivering fans directly to the front gate of Turner Field. Having utilized this service many times, I must say it is convenient and my preferred way of commuting downtown.

Another Atlanta summer favorite is The Atlanta Moonride, which kicked off the summer by encouraging Atlantans to come explore the city by bike in the evening for a great cause. Exploring the city, exercise, and a great time are key factors in any fun summer excursion.

Centennial Olympic Park has a full line-up of summer events or just another beautiful spot to play with easy access to transit!

And then, if you’re like me and like your music live, carpool or take transit straight to Midtown this summer to catch Unplugged in the Park, a free concert series at Park Tavern at Piedmont Park every Sunday, or catch live bands at one of our countless, amazing music venues.

For more information about other summer city fun taking part in Atlanta, click here.

If you are curious about which clean commute transportation options are available, we’d love to help you get to and from work easier, and travel throughout the city as easily as possible during the summer months and beyond. Check out the different options at GaCommuteOptions.com or call 1-877-9-GA-OPTIONS.

Hope to see you out and about this summer...and don't forget the sunscreen!

Lettie Hernandez Ongie is an Employer Program Manager with The Clean Air Campaign. For the past six years, she has assisted the State of Georgia’s various agencies with implementing clean commute options and programs, her personal favorites being Telework & Compressed Work Weeks. An avid teleworker, Lettie enjoys using her extra hour saved on telework days to spend time with family and blog.

The Vanpoolooza open house events kicked off this afternoon at the Cumberland location. Representatives from The Clean Air Campaign, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, V-Ride and Douglas County Rideshare were on hand to recognize dedicated vanpoolers and tell newcomers about free services to get started on a vanpool.

The current vanpoolers and prospective vanpoolers were kept entertaining by Star94 reps who kept the party alive with music, games, and raffled off concert tickets, restaurant gift cards, and fun goodies for those who attended.

If you are you interested in learning more about vanpooling or want to add new riders to your current vanpool, as well as compete in contests to win prizes, check out our other vanpool open houses:

Downtown Open House: Thursday, May 30 at 12:00 pm
Buckhead Open House: Wednesday, June 5 at 12:00 pm
Emory/VA Open House: Wednesday, June 12 at 12:00 pm

Have fun and enjoy!

Saturday, May 18th is International Museum Day and the ATL doesn’t come up short in the museums category.  The best part is many of Atlanta’s fine institutions are only a green trip away.  On weekends in the spring like this one, the Connector and surface streets are crammed with festival-goers, park-partiers and beer drinkers.  Why not find some respite in choosing a green, easy way to get to one of the many museums that Atlanta has to offer?  Here are just a few:

The Atlanta History Center
130 West Paces Ferry Road, Atlanta, GA 30305

• Admission: $16.50 and includes Atlanta History Museum, the Centennial Olympic Games Museum, the 1860 Smith Family Farm, the 1928 Swan House, and 33 acres of gardens. Plus, Margaret Mitchell House admission is included if visited within 9 days of Atlanta History Center.  May 18th (and May 19th) the AHC will offer FREE ADMISSION for all guests thanks to Bank of America sponsoring their new exhibit: Slavery at Jefferson’s Monticello: How the Word is Passed Down and in support of that exhibit, admission is free on the third weekend of each month through June.
• Train/Bus: Closest MARTA station is the Buckhead Station on the Red Line. From the station it is a .07 mile walk to the museum, so most guests opt to transfer from the rail line to the #110 Bus.  Take the #110 bus SOUTH on Peachtree Street and exit the bus where Peachtree and Roswell Road merge together. Make a right on West Paces Ferry Road and proceed two blocks. History Center is located on the left.

Atlanta Monetary Museum
1000 Peachtree Street, N.E. Atlanta, Georgia 30309

• Admission: Free
• Train: One block north of the Midtown MARTA station
• Bus: #110 stops out in front

Center for Puppetry Arts
1404 Spring St. NW at 18th, Atlanta, GA 30309

• Admission: Single show tickets, including Create-A-Puppet Workshop and Museum $16.50.  Currently offering a partnership deal with the Wren’s Nest, the historic home of Joel Chandler Harris and Brer Rabbit. See Brer Rabbit & Friends and receive a coupon good for up to 4 free entries at the Wren’s Nest.  Members of MODA (Museum of Design Atlanta), get free museum entry to the other during the month of May.
• Train: MARTA walking distance from Arts Center Station
• Bike: Bicycle rack available

David J. Sencer CDC Museum
1600 Clifton Road, NE; A-14, Atlanta, GA  30333

• Admission: Free
• Train/Bus: Take the North/South MARTA train to Lindbergh Station and transfer to the # 6 Emory Bus. Get off on Clifton Road at CDC Parkway and walk down to the security booth.
• Bike: Get a map here

Fernbank Museum
767 Clifton Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30307

• Admission: 17.50 for the museum only
• Bus: The #2 MARTA bus travels down Ponce de Leon Ave. and stops at the intersection with Clifton, just south of the museum entrance.
• Walk or Bike: Paved trails run parallel to Ponce de Leon Ave, which are great for cyclists. Additionally, the PATH runs close to the museum and connects with the OLPA park trails.

Fernbank Science Center
156 Heaton Park Drive NE, Atlanta, GA 30307

• Admission: Free
• Carpool: The nearest major intersection is Ponce de Leon Ave NE at Artwood Rd NE. Heaton Park Drive is the only turn possible off of Artwood. They have a small parking lot for carpooling visitors.
• Bus: MARTA #2 route connects North Avenue Station and Decatur station. Patrons travelling TOWARDS Decatur should be sure to check for a DECATUR destination on the individual bus, since outbound Route #2 buses alternate between Decatur Station and Edgewood-Candler Park Station as a final turn-around destination. Buses typically leave every 15-20 minutes, but patrons should consult the MARTA schedule for exact times.
• Train: Fernbank Science Center is located close to two different MARTA stations, Decatur Station and East Lake Station. From either station, visitors would have a walk of approximately 1.3 miles along neighborhood streets.
• Walking/Biking: Fernbank Science Center is accessible via Ponce de Leon Ave (turn at Artwood Road) and North Decatur Road (turn at intersection with Clifton Road NE).  The PATH trail has a spur that terminates at Ponce de Leon Ave and Clifton Road. Continue down Clifton Road towards Emory University and turn right at the next intersection, proceeding uphill on East Clifton Road. The next right-hand turn (Dyson Drive) brings you to Heaton Park Drive.

High Museum of Art
1280 Peachtree Street, N.E.  Atlanta, GA 30309

• Admission: $19.50 Adult.  For International Museum Day, the High will be offering FREE ADMISSION all day on May 18 (open from 10 am to 5 pm).
• Train: The High is located directly across the street from the MARTA Arts Center (N5) station. Guests can exit the station at the top level and follow signs to the museum.
• Bus: MARTA #37, #110 bus routes stop at the Arts Center station

The Millennium Gate and Museum
395 17th St NW Atlanta, GA 30363

• Admission: $10 Adults
• Train: MARTA to Arts Center Station then take the ASAP+ Free Shuttle to Atlantic Station.
• Bus: MARTA #37 bus stops at Atlantic Dr.

Robert C. Williams Papermaking Museum
500 10th Street NW Atlanta, GA 30332, GA Tech

• Admission: Free.  Additional programs for additional cost.
• Bus: MARTA #12 bus stops outside the building
• Shuttle: Use the Tech Trolley and the Stinger, both of which are available for public use.  They stop about a block away from the museum on 8th Street, and it’s a short walk to the building.  
• Train: Located ¾ of a mile from the Midtown MARTA station.

Rhodes Hall
1516 Peachtree St NW, Atlanta, GA 30309

• Admission:  Main Floor $5, Behind the scenes $7 Adult
• Train/Bus: 5 blocks north of Arts Center Station, the #110 MARTA bus stops right out front

Even though this list of museums is not comprehensive and the specials are not good forever, the green trips are.  If you can team up to get to the museum, the ball game, or the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, why not give it a try on your way to and from work?  If you need some help, that’s what we are HERE for!

Tom is a voice actor, ex-Radio DJ and Director of Production, Stand-up Comedian, Actor, Symphony Orchestra Tuba Performer and Freelance Writer with a passion for trains, LEGOs, pinball, craft beer, and the NY Jets. He is currently the Outreach Director for the Buckhead Area TMA and can be followed on Twitter or emailed here.

My love affair with transit came at an early age when I exchanged family and friends for 10 months in Zaragoza, Spain, during my junior year of high school. Not only did I say, “¡Adiós a todos!” to my loved ones, but I also said, “Nunca te olvidaré,” (I will never forget you) to driving a car.

Exploring unfamiliar territory without a personal vehicle proved nerve-racking at first, but became second nature in no time. According to Turespaña, an organization dedicated to promoting Spain as a destination abroad, “Zaragoza is an ideal city to explore on foot.” The fifth largest city in Spain, Zaragoza boasts infinite ways to tug at your heart strings, all without having to rely on a personal vehicle.

Whether purchasing school supplies at El Corte Inglés by Plaza Aragón, sharing a café cortado with friends at Il Caffè di Roma, or buying stamps at the post office, I always had my tarjetabús pass in hand. Similar to a Breeze Card, the tarjetabús pass is rechargeable and permits various changes between bus lines free of charge within one hour.

The tarjetabús not only helped me complete my daily to-do list, but the pass also opened my eyes to Spanish art and Baroque architecture. The Basilica of our Lady of the Pilar, deemed one of the most important spiritual structures in Spain, boasts frescos painted by Goya and creates endless storytelling. Situated next to multiple bus routes, the Basilica taught me history and left me with enough time to peruse the latest fashions at MANGO, my favorite clothing store, on the way home.

Public transit not only saved my life, but it gave me quite the Spanish flair. Even today, I refuse to drive to my favorite Southern landmarks, including the Fabulous Fox Theatre and Woodruff Arts Center, just so I can tap my Breeze Card at the MARTA station. I don’t know about you, but a night out with Elphaba or Salvador Dalí wouldn’t be complete without the Spanish vibrancy of transit to take you there.

This particular way of life has even translated into how I get to work—and pays off big time. According to the Commute Calculator, my solo drive into downtown Atlanta would cost me more than $3,000 every year! The Georgia Commute Options site also provides a list of transit providers across the state so I can determine my route.

The greatest thing about taking transit into work is that I don’t have to use it every day. Even riding the train once or twice a week saves me money and satisfies two of my favorite loves: people watching and learning more about Spain through the words of Ernest Hemingway.

As Employer Program Manager with The Clean Air Campaign, Sadler Croft helps North Fulton businesses develop commute options programs for their employees. Outside of work, Sadler dedicates time to Junior League of Atlanta and supporting the arts through Atlanta Symphony Associates. You can also find her lost in the pages of a good story or brushing up on her Arabic skills.

It’s that time of year again where we are starting to think about renewal. Not just of ourselves, but of the environment and the Earth as well. Spring time, Earth Day, Earth Week, Earth Month, Air Quality Awareness Week, the list goes on. If you are like me and thinking of doing a little bit more this year for dear old Mother Earth, here are a few quick, easy steps to a healthier commute, which saves the clean air, the environment, and heck, maybe even saves you a few dollars in your pocketbook. If we can make this a habit, we can make a difference; and this is how good habits start: by taking small steps and celebrating small victories.

1. Learn your options: Clean commuting comes in many forms-- there is carpooling, vanpooling, in town and regional transit, biking or walking to work, and even teleworking or working a compressed work week. Georgia Commute Options has all the information you need at GaCommuteOptions.com.
2. Tackle your excuses: Everyone has some reason that clean commuting doesn’t work for them: “There is no one that lives near me.” “I have a child and what if they get sick.” “My schedule is too variable.” Truth be told, all of the above are solvable problems. Having an open mind is essential to making a change. Reach out to your local Transportation Management Agency and get help making that change and tackling those excuses. Find your nearest TMA here.
3. Get ridematching assistance: Everyone in the Greater Atlanta area should be registered in the free ridematching database even if it is just as an emergency back-up plan. It is always good to know who lives near you and works near you so that if when you have the car in the shop, or the price of gas jumps up $2 a gallon un-expectantly, you can still bring home the bacon.
4. Commit to 2 days a month: Have you ever driven to work on a federal holiday? Notice how the traffic is considerably less? Well less than 10% of the employed public gets Federal Holidays off¹, which means that if every person in Atlanta green commuted twice a month, we wouldn't have a traffic problem. Remember, you don’t have to do it every day. Try once a month, see if it works, and then maybe bump it up a day or two. Every mile you are saving is equal to one pound of pollution. That adds up quickly.
5. Talk about it: I lived on Hilton Head Island for 12 years and we were always shopping our home owners’ insurance rates. The reason was that because we paid so much for insurance, it was always top of mind and a topic of conversation. The same will hold true for clean commuting. The more people that know about the positive health, environmental, and financial results, the more people will do it. Help make it top of mind by following Georgia Commute Options on Facebook and Twitter.

There you go. 5 easy ways that you can help make a difference and chalk up some victories for dear old Mom Earth. Which reminds me, Mother’s Day is right around the corner. Do yourself a favor and call your mother.

¹US Bureau of Labor Statistics

Tom is a voice actor, ex-Radio DJ and Director of Production, Stand-up Comedian, Actor, Symphony Orchestra Tuba Performer and Freelance Writer with a passion for trains, LEGOs, pinball, craft beer, and the NY Jets. He is currently the Outreach Director for the Buckhead Area TMA and can be followed on Twitter or emailed here.

For a transit system facing a host of challenges, the recent report by the American Public Transportation Association citing MARTA’s ridership decline (down 8 percent in 2012) is sad news. There’s no escaping it: some riders are opting to return to their cars. But, I’m not ready to retire my Breeze card. For me, the pros of using transit still outweigh the cons.

First, transit costs less than driving to work alone each day. Let’s do the math: A monthly MARTA pass is $95.00. The cheapest monthly parking lot near my office is $80.00 a month. Add gas at $3.50/gallon, and the cost of driving alone equals over $300 more each year.

Secondly, taking transit can be less frustrating than driving. My bus and/or train may run late occasionally—but traffic congestion occurs every day. Plus, I get to avoid the “texters and drivers, the “road ragers,” a headache, and stress. I just hop on MARTA, turn on my music (with earphones), open a book and relax.

I get more exercise by taking transit. When I take MARTA, I walk 6 blocks each way on my commute. I only walk 1 block from the parking lot to my office when I drive. The brisk strolls energize my body and mind before and after a full workday.

Taking transit also helps the environment. According to the American Public Transportation Association, “using public transit decreases a household’s carbon footprint by 10%." This helps us all breathe easier.

Finally, in addition to saving money, taking transit may also give you money. By registering at LogYourCommute.org, you can win $25 monthly gift cards or earn $3 a day, up to $100 by making the switch from driving alone. For more information on these programs or to see if there’s a transit route in your area go to GaCommuteOptions.com or call 1-877-9-GA-OPTIONS.

Joy Ingram currently serves as the Customer Service and Administrative Coordinator for The Clean Air Campaign. She is also the Transit Subject Matter Expert for the team. She enjoys listening to music and reading while traveling on MARTA.