Denver Kickoff for "Ride Smart Thursdays" Offers Prizes Now, Better Environment Later

Denver's Regional Transportation District (RTD) put on a big downtown celebration to encourage potential passengers to "take the pledge" and make their commuting routines more "green" through the use of public transit. The celebration included music, prize drawings, merchant participation and a beautiful day on which to hold the event. "Ride Smart Thursdays" kickoff event brought the focus of lunchtime attendees to doing their part for the environment in Denver, and making their own lives a bit easier as well.

For years, Denver has been encouraging commuters to forgo their automobiles for one day a week to help alleviate the cloud of brown smog and the ozone levels that the city struggles with. With the advent of even higher gas prices, more commuters are exploring the public transportation option. The RTD is well positioned, as a recent light rail expansion has been well received and further development is on the way. In fact, in some areas served by the new light rail, parking facilities are already being filled on a daily basis.

The Ride Smart Thursdays celebration offered easy instructions customized for each person's commute, as well as drawings which included a commuter bicycle and scooter, mp3 players and more, which are ongoing. Bicycles are carried on most RTD vehicles including light rail, allowing bicycle riders to extend their range or even commute by bicycle in any of the cities covered by the RTD.

Taking the pledge included in the monthly RTD newsletter at the website listed, www.ridesmartthursdays.com will still, according to the RTD, include participants in monthly and grand price drawings through October, 2007, and will show support for the RTD's services.

With the price of gas rising and continuing expansion, the RTD may win many new riders. The rise in fuel costs is being blamed for a proposed early (one year early) fare increased slated for January, but a rise from $54 to $60 for a local pass is not much more than a tank of gas for most commuters, who would also be helping the region to meet environmental targets on a voluntary basis.

In addition to commuting, Denver-area residents and visitors are finding the RTD helps them avoid traffic on the way to sports and cultural events, festivals and shopping. The Ride Smart Thursdays celebration helps to keep the RTD as a visible option to commuters who often are only aware of the alternative to automobile commuting as they sit in traffic, watching the light rail vehicles fly by.