UCLA Transportation hosts events to honor Rideshare Week
By Jennifer Crane
Oct. 8, 2013 1:44 a.m.
UCLA Transportation is hosting a series of events this week in honor of California statewide Rideshare Week, an annual statewide event to promote alternate forms of transportation.
The events were established about 20 years ago to reduce traffic and air pollution, said Penny Menton, the senior associate director of Events & Transportation Communications and Commuter Services. UCLA has been promoting alternative transportation for the last 29 years and supports the mission of Rideshare Week, she added.
“The California state Rideshare Week has multiple goals and UCLA participates in this statewide campaign to reduce traffic, increase mobility and reduce pollution,” Menton said.
Currently, 51 percent of people drive to UCLA alone, Menton said.
The goal of UCLA’s Climate Action Plan, a plan developed to researching initiatives that can be done to reduce the level of air pollution, is to have 50 percent of people traveling to UCLA to participate in commuting together and using alternative transportation methods, she said.
Those participating in Rideshare Week must take Metro’s online pledge to carpool, bike, walk or ride public transportation at least one day during this week.
After completing the online pledge, participants will be automatically entered to win prizes from Metro, such as Disneyland tickets, gas gift cards and AAA Auto Club memberships.
Other prizes will also be available from Bruin Commuter Club, a group that provides special benefits and incentives to UCLA students, staff and faculty who use alternative transportation services.
