Some communities have developed pollution reduction strategies to make it easier for large amounts of people to reduce air pollution in their cities and towns. Grant money is even available to help fund and promote some of these strategies.
Communities can:
Start rideshare programs - Businesses can reward employees that carpool or take public transportation to work.
Encourage school districts to switch their buses over to a cleaner fuel.
Create "no idling" zones near buildings, especially schools, so that cars don't pull up next to the building and sit with their engines running - this puts exhaust fumes straight into the building.
Create groups that meet and pressure legislators to create pollution control regulations.
Start a campaign that discourages people from driving or using gas powered lawn equipment during high pollution season.
Promote transit use. Install bike and pedestrian lanes. Designate lanes on expressways for High Occupancy Vehicles (HOV) - special fast lanes for cars with more than one person inside. These will all reduce congestion as well.
Offer incentives to people who buy alternatively fueled vehicles, or those who choose to convert their autos to use alternative fuels.
Make alternative fuels widely available.
Employers can offer cash to employees instead of parking spaces. Then more people will ride their bikes or another alternative form of transportation to work everyday.
Offset work schedules. Provide employees the flexibility to stagger their hours, come in later, or telecommute. This will reduce the number of autos on the road during rush hour.
Install cleaner technologies into intercity bus engines, garbage trucks and other fleets.
Some cities are setting good examples. Take a look!
Environmental Vehicle Rental Cars- rents electric, natural gas, hybrid electric and low emission gasoline-powered vehicles. Since opening in 1998, EV Rental Cars and its customers have directly prevented more than 15 tons of air pollution. To rent, see EV's website at http://www.evrental.com/
