The City of Calgary is celebrating Earth Day by asking Calgarians to park the car!

The city is encouraging people to take transit, bikes, or carpool.

Robin Sauvé the City of Calgary’s Leader of Community Initiatives says “by using a combination of modes to get where we need to go, we can reduce our emissions, save on money and improve our quality of life.”

The city is hosting an Earth Day event at Olympic Plaza from 11 am to 1pm Tuesday, April 22, 2014.

The city has a list of tips for people who want to “travel greener”.

  • Leave your car at home
    Consider your health and your wallet when choosing your mode of travel. Save money on a gym membership by walking your kids to school or taking your bike to work.
  • Mix and match
    By combining two or more modes of transportation such as cycling and public transit, you can cover greater distances and bypass obstacles such as traffic jams or detours.
  • Share the cost
  • Did you know that on average it costs more than $10,000 a year to own and operate a vehicle?  Using services like car-sharing and transit can reduce the need for a second vehicle and save you money in the long run.
  • Buddy up
    When travelling greater distances, cut down on traffic and the cost of your commute by carpooling to your destination.
  • Drive Smart
    If you must drive, adopt these green driving habits to reduce your emissions.

Accelerate smoothly- Start slow and build up speed gradually.

Prepare to stop by slowing down - Avoid hard stops and you’ll use less fuel.

Reduce idling - It only takes 10 seconds to use more fuel idling than it does to restart your engine.

Check your tire pressure monthly - Proper tire pressure increases fuel efficiency and decreases wear and tear on the tires. 

Reduce your load - Eliminating unnecessary weight in your trunk can go a long way to increasing your car’s fuel efficiency. Take off any unused ski or bike racks to reduce additional weight and wind resistance.

Plan and combine trips - Whenever possible, schedule trips so you start with the furthest stop first. 

Travel light - Select the right size vehicle for the job at hand.