FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 10, 2012
Contact: Mike Kanarick
802.735.7962
Mayor Miro Weinberger Promotes Transportation Alternatives and their Benefits during “Way to Go!” Multi-Modal Tour
Burlington, VT – Mayor Miro Weinberger today held his “Way to Go!” multi-modal tour* during which he promoted through his own action various transportation alternatives to driving the single occupancy vehicle. Weinberger’s modes of transportation included walking, riding the bus, cycling, and car-sharing. Engaging in these healthier, more eco-friendly, and less expensive forms of transportation reduces our commuter carbon footprints.
“We organized today’s tour to showcase for all Burlingtonians the tremendous benefits that come with taking advantage of our great variety of transportation alternatives,” Weinberger said. “By walking, riding the bus, cycling, and car-sharing, we all partner in protecting the environment, creating safer streets with fewer automobiles, and encouraging others to join us.”
Weinberger’s multi-modal tour coincided with the upcoming start of the annual Way to Go! Statewide Commuter Challenge, which will take place during the week of May 14-18, 2012. During Way to Go! week, everyone who commits to walk, bike, telecommute, carpool, ride the bus, or use any other solo-driving alternatives will be entered in multiple drawings to win great prizes, including Burton snowboards, overnight stays, restaurant gift certificates, yoga passes, spa treatments, bike tune-ups, golf and ski passes and more. To learn more about and/or to register for Way to Go! week, please visit www.waytogovt.org.
During last year’s Way to Go! week, more than 3,200 participants saved over 450,000 commuting miles, reduced emissions by 350,000 pounds, and saved more than $90,000 in transportation expenses. Vermont’s long-term goal is to save the state at least 500,000 pounds of transportation pollutants.
At a public event on Church Street earlier this week, Weinberger kicked off both Walk/Bike Month and the 2012 Vermont Bike Challenge.
*Please see itinerary (below) for details of Mayor Weinberger’s tour.
Mayor Miro Weinberger’s Way to Go! Multi-Modal Tour – Itinerary
Thursday, May 10, 2012
8:30am: City Hall
- Depart Mayor’s Office and walk downstairs to Planning & Zoning bike parking
- Pick up City bike
8:45am: Church Street
- Walk bike up Church Street to Cherry Street CCTA Transit Center
8:55am: Cherry Street CCTA Transit Center
- Welcome from CCTA General Manager Bill Watterson and Assistant GM Aaron Frank
- Brief discussion about developing new multi-modal transit center
9:10am: City Bus
- Load bikes on bus (only 2 bikes fit on a bus)
- Board bus (City Loop #8) at Cherry Street
- Bus departs
- Tour participants who would like to join the bike portion of the ride will depart from the Cherry Street bus station at this time and rejoin the group at Old Spokes Home.
9:25am: Old Spokes Home (322 North Winooski)
- Bus stops in front of 294 North Winooski.
- Remove bikes
- Continue NE on North Winooski crossing Archibald
- Welcome and brief discussion of bike transport/commuting from owner Glenn Eames
9:45am: Bike Ride from Old Spokes Home to downtown
- Bike travel from Old Spokes Home via North Winooski
- Note the absence of bike lane continuity on the ride
10:10am: KK Wilder’s home – 10 North Champlain Street
- KK travels in a wheelchair
- Travel with KK from her house to top of Church Street
10:25am: Bike Travel
- From top of Church Street to St. Paul Street
10:40: CarShare Vermont – 131 St. Paul Street
- Welcome from CarShare Director Annie Bourdon
- Overview of CarShare program
10:55am: Walk to Waterfront via College Street
- Connection between downtown and waterfront
11:05am: Ride/Walk to Maglianero, 47 Maple Street, via Waterfront Bike Path
11:15am: Press Conference @ Maglianero
- Welcome from visionary Maglianero owner Michael Jager, creative director of Jager Di Paolo Kemp & advocate of the modern mobility movement Way to Go! Mayoral Proclamation
- Q&A
# # #
