Join the Great Race for Clean Air and You Could Win a Trip to Santa Barbara

By Hacienda Network Staff Writer

In the Bay Area, we have a rich variety of options for commuters, including BART, buses, trains, vanpools, bicycling, ferries, and even walking. To celebrate those choices and the benefits they offer the environment, the Bay Area Air Quality Management District and Esurance Auto Insurance are sponsoring "4 Modes in 4 Weeks," a contest that challenges commuters to use four different types of commute travel during the month of September.

The winning entrant will receive a car-free trip for two to Santa Barbara, including round-trip Amtrak tickets, a two-night hotel stay, and cash for meals and activities.

The contest is part of the Bay Area Air Quality Management District's 50th anniversary celebration. Founded in 1955, the Air District is a public agency which regulates stationary sources of air pollution in the nine Bay Area counties. Along with the other local air agencies in the state, the Air District reports to the California Air Resources Board (CARB), which oversees its activities and regulates mobile sources of air pollution, such as cars, trucks and buses. The Air District's goals include attaining and maintaining air quality standards, increasing public awareness of positive air quality choices, and developing and implementing protocol and policies for environmental justice.

Entering the contest is easy. Forms will be available for download by clicking on the "Great Race for Clean Air" logo at the www.sparetheair.org web site. Entrants will have a month to take photographs of themselves using four different modes of transportation for their commute or other travel needs and submit those along with the entry form. The winner will be announced on Thursday, October 6, at the Tri-Valley Commuter Choice Transportation Fair, which takes place from 10:30 am to 1:30 pm at the CarrAmerica Corporate Center, 4432 Rosewood Drive in Hacienda.

For additional information on the Great Race for Clean Air, access www.sparetheair.org. The Bay Area Air Quality Management District's web site is at www.baaqmd.gov.

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