Fourth and fifth grade students at High Meadows School were beginning a unit of study on conflict. They were challenged to identify a conflict on campus that was related to our natural resources.  There were certainly litter problems, recycling efforts that could be improved, but this had to be a conflict, which by definition must have two opposing viewpoints. Not many people could argue that littering is a good thing, nor that recycling is a bad thing…so they had to dig deeper.

Several students observed that cars seemed to idle their engines during carpool and everyone knows that idling cars cause air pollution. If everyone knows and they do it anyway, then perhaps the conflict is embedded in differing perspectives. 

Hmmm...deeper digging would be necessary. 

Ok, so students reasoned if people know idling causes pollution, but they do it anyway, perhaps there is something they value more than clean air in that moment. What could that be? Upon further investigation students learned parents had small children in the car during carpool, and with blazing hot temperatures still around in September, it simply wasn’t safe or comfortable to sit in a car without air conditioning. So now we have a conflict! Some people understood that an idling car caused air pollution, and turned off their cars showing their value of clean air. Others not only didn’t fully understand the impact idling had on clean air and the health of kids outside the car, but also perhaps valued the health of their small children inside the car.

Through the use of empathy and compassion, students realized people on both sides of the conflict had valid and reasonable points. This led to students also ruling out the possibility of having a good guy/bad guy situation on either side of the conflict and called into action the need for critical thinking and problem solving.

Through classroom discussion students discovered they weren’t clear on what was fact and fiction regarding the impact of idling cars on the quality of air. Students sought out a clean air expert from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and invited him to educate them on the science behind car idling. 

They discovered many beliefs they held were not based in science, including arguments on both sides of the conflict. They felt empowered and compelled to share their findings with our larger school community. By now they fully understood that a negative and shaming message would do nothing but alienate the audience they wished to convince.  They had to find a way to empower the parents with information and provide solutions.

After taking a survey to learn how many cars were idling, students decided an educational campaign during Clean Commute Week in October could be the path to success. 

Next step was to synthesize the information they had learned from the CDC into attention-catching posters while keeping the message positive. Although challenging, the students prevailed and for three days during Clean Commute Week they walked the carpool line with their original and convincing signs. They also handed out no idling stickers and answered any questions parents had about idling. The students were thrilled when the Clean Air Campaign BAIR came to assist their efforts! 

This entire process resulted in the students using empathy and compassion to convince 99% of our carpooling parents to turn their cars off! Students also decided on a follow-up campaign that will take place the week before Earth Day in April to remind our parents of their commitment to Clean Air!

Michelle Aldenderfer-Griffin is an Environmental Education Teacher/Coordinator at High Meadows School in Roswell

Big Shanty Intermediate School's "Green Team" was proud to promote Clean Commute Week last October! To raise awareness about the dangers of idling, my fifth grade class rallied the school by creating “No Idling” signs, which were placed at the entrance of the school with scarecrows we created. We were able to obtain quite a few signs thanks to the support of Kessler’s Team Sports in Woodstock. The signs included “did you know” facts about idling, that we were able to obtain off of The Clean Air Campaign’s website.

One of the activities that students really enjoyed was reading facts about the benefits of clean commuting during morning announcements. We also invited BAIR, The Clean Air Campaign mascot to our school to walk the campus during afternoon announcements. The students just loved their time with BAIR.

One of the highlights of the week was a school-wide competition to see which class made the “greenest commute” choice during the week. We surveyed each class on the Friday before Clean Commute Week to find out of how each child gets to school. We then promoted greener ways of commuting like riding their bikes, taking the bus and carpooling. At the end of the week we collected the survey again and found that several students made greener commute choices. Not only did we do a part to reduce pollution, we also received great feedback from parents, staff, and students about how successful they felt the week went!

Last but not least, we had a student from our BSEN (in-school) news channel interview Joey Giunta, a Clean Air Campaign representative, about the benefits of “No Idling” and making greener commute choices.  We also interviewed our School Nurse, Bev Jones, RN, who informed us of the asthma epidemic in our school and community.

We feel that Big Shanty is benefitting greatly from promoting The Clean Air Campaign and Clean Commute Week is a great platform for us to do so.

Jamee Douglas is a fifth grade teacher at Big Shanty Intermediate School in Kennesaw, GA.

On this Valentine's Day, and every day, our hearts beat true for less traffic and cleaner air.  So, pucker up and embrace the clean commuting love in this latest edition of Merging Lanes.

Romantic Routes: Georgia Ranks High on Roads with Amorous Names

Who knew?  Just in time for Valentine’s Day, an entertaining report from a maker of GPS devices reveals that some of the most “romantic” roads in the U.S. are found right here in the Peach State.  Georgia boasts 70 miles of roads with amorous names that include phrases like “Darling” or “Rose” or “Heart” in them.  Perhaps just the inspiration you need to fall in love with a commute alternative, like this cute couple.

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Thinking Big for Cleaner Air: Article Suggests Smog Solutions

Great article from National Geographic that describes the causes of air pollution and offers a handful of “big picture” ideas to tackle the problem.  While the intro concentrates on the state of the air in Los Angeles, there are many parallels to the challenges we’re facing in Georgia, from population growth to increasing pressure on the existing transportation network.  Among the many spot-on suggestions?  Increasing public awareness when air quality is unhealthy.  The Clean Air Campaign has you covered with Smog Alerts.  More than 12,000 Georgians are signed up to receive them.  Are you?

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Purchasing Power of a Penny: ATL Transportation Referendum Projections Spell Out Potential Benefits

The Atlanta Regional Commission recently released a raft of projections about the economic and quality of life benefits that the 150+ projects on the docket for Atlanta could yield.  Among the notable forecasts: the total $8 billion list could yield a 4:1 return on investment, and the environmental benefits derived from less vehicle idling in traffic could yield air quality improvements roughly equal to 72,000 fewer tailpipes on the road.  Still puzzling through the data, but it's clear this information will shape the way in which this referendum is presented to voters.

Lane ends 500 feet.

 
New Twist on Traffic Fate: Psychic Predicts Your Commute

Stalled out vehicle on the Downtown Connector.  Heavy volume at I-575.  Sunshine slowdown on I-20.  Sometimes, our collective rush hour commuting fate can feel like a roll of the dice.  And more commuters are embracing tools like 511 and Georgia NaviGAtor to help dodge traffic.  But ABC news recently reported on a more … um, celestial … method some folks are using to predict the outcome of their commute.  With tarot cards at the ready, could the traffic psychic have answers about your next trip?

Merge.

The Clean Air Campaign recently released its inaugural list of Platinum Partners, recognizing employers and property managers whose employees and tenants use alternatives to driving alone for at least 20 percent of their commute trips. The initial list consists of 130 metro Atlanta and Georgia employers and property managers, including IBM. The Clean Air Campaign salutes IBM and all of the Platinum Partners achieving success in reducing traffic congestion and improving the quality of the air we breathe. When it comes to less traffic and cleaner air, these organizations are “In Good Company”. To view the complete list, click here.

Carol Warrick (L) receives a Platinum Partnership certificate from The Clean Air Campaign’s Raina Sayer (R), recognizing IBM’s successful commute options program that has kept 776 tons of pollution out of the air since 2002.

National Weatherperson's Day, also known as National Weatherman's Day, is a holiday observed on February 5 primarily in the United States. It recognizes individuals in the fields of meteorology, weather forecasting and broadcast meteorology - including the folks who watch over the quality of the air we breathe - as well as volunteer storm spotters and observers. National Weatherperson's Day is observed on the birthday of John Jeffries, one of the United States' first weather observers who took daily measurements from 1774 to 1816.

At the age of four, I made the decision to become a meteorologist and I have not looked back since. Growing up and seeing our local meteorologist cover severe weather on television was something that just fascinated me.  Still does.  Not only did I enjoy hearing about weather changes and formations, I also enjoyed seeing how meteorologists prepared people for harsh weather.  Now that I am a meteorologist, I take great pride in being able to do the same.

Although I have looked up to many meteorologists over the years, I would say that my biggest role model was James Spann, the chief meteorologist at the ABC affiliate (ABC 33/40) in Birmingham.  He always seemed to pave the way for new technology in the industry.  Plus, he was a unique storyteller and passionate about his job. Witnessing his balance between community involvement, school visits and severe weather coverage provided me with a great model for my own career.

Being a meteorologist provides me quite a few perks, however the biggest perk is being able to go to work each day and not feel like I’m at work.  I’m doing something that I enjoy and have been passionate about for years.  Over the course of my seven year career, I would say that my most memorable experience was my first day on air when I was a senior in college working at the ABC affiliate (WTOK) in Meridian, Mississippi.  Hurricane Ivan made landfall, and our weather team was involved in continuous coverage of the storm for over 12 hours.  It was quite a way to break into the business!

Since that time, I’ve seen firsthand the devastation that severe weather events can place on communities.  Unfortunately, we can only do so much on TV when we cover these situations, so we encourage individuals to take it upon themselves to stay informed, and we strive to ensure that the public is weather-aware.

Our weather team informs our audience on air quality issues by displaying the air quality index when we foresee bad air days.  This allows residents to take action to improve the air and protect themselves.  In Columbus, we deal with air quality issues occasionally, especially during the summer months.  It’s important for us to let people know about air quality concerns outside of our area since many of our residents travel to cities like Birmingham and Atlanta, which often see worse conditions than we do.

Aside from weather-related events, it’s nice to be able promote positive things like school contests, such as The Clean Air Campaign’s Young Lungs at Work Art Competition, which helps educate kids about pollution and how it affects the air we breathe.  By spreading the word in our local community, we can help people understand the importance of turning off engines to idling cars and school buses in pick-up lanes at school.

I'm happy to say that for the first time in awhile I won’t be at work on Weatherperson’s Day this Sunday, so I’ll likely celebrate it by enjoying a day off and watching the Super Bowl. Happy Weatherperson’s Day to all my peers!

Derek Kinkade is the chief meteorologist for 9 ABC/WTVM in Columbus.

National Weatherperson's Day, also known as National Weatherman's Day, is a holiday observed on February 5 primarily in the United States. It recognizes individuals in the fields of meteorology, weather forecasting and broadcast meteorology - including the folks who watch over the quality of the air we breathe - as well as volunteer storm spotters and observers. National Weatherperson's Day is observed on the birthday of John Jeffries, one of the United States' first weather observers who took daily measurements from 1774 to 1816.

My fascination, passion, excitement (and possible obsession) with all things weather began when I was in my mother’s womb. Since I was a youngster, I remember loving the smell of rain, gazing at the different sizes and shapes of clouds and touching and tasting white snow…okay, maybe I am obsessed.  However, I am truly blessed to have been able to turn this lifelong passion into a rewarding career as a meteorologist.

It’s often said that people are most fearful of what they don’t understand.  There was a time in my life when the deep growls of thunder and the sound of a tornado siren would send chills up my spine. But as I grew older, fueled by my passion and curiosity, I delved deeper and deeper into understanding the physical processes of our atmosphere. Though we have a good handle on the principles and properties of our atmosphere, there is still plenty of room for growth and further research to figure out exactly how different elements of our environment marry to create the weather we experience.

Being a meteorologist on television comes with a hefty responsibility. People look to meteorologists for a variety of things, from insight into significant earth science events to accurate forecasting on the day of a big outdoor weekend to, most importantly, guidance during severe weather.

My primary responsibility as a meteorologist on television is to protect the lives and property of my viewers. Before you head out the door and hit the roads, you need to know what kind of weather to expect so you are ready for your commute to and from work. It’s my goal to help you plan and prepare for your day.

Part of that includes distributing Smog Alerts when air quality reaches hazardous levels for groups of people. Thankfully that does not happen too often in my part of the state, and I support our friends at The Clean Air Campaign to keep it that way. They do a great job promoting the use of commute alternatives throughout Georgia so you can enjoy cleaner air and less traffic.

The field of meteorology is continuously evolving. Though I suppose the average person thinks of a meteorologist as the guy on the local news, there are actually many opportunities in weather forecasting outside of television, including both the private and government sectors.

If weather is your passion, pursue it!  The sky is the limit!

Michael Estime is the chief meteorologist for 41 NBC / WMGT-TV in Macon, Ga.

Cousins Properties is pleased to have been named a Platinum Partner. To be one of only 130 metro Atlanta employers and property managers recognized for results achieved through its sustainable commute program is quite an honor. There are a few people that helped us achieve this accomplishment.
 
Downtown TMA has been an instrumental partner in helping Cousins educate its customers on the alternative commuting options available downtown. Joint program initiatives have included quarterly transportation fairs; Commuter Rewards programs, and also a spot on the Downtown TMA information kiosk rotation.
 
In addition, in 2009, Cousins introduced a Bike Share Program at its downtown properties - American Cancer Society Center and One Ninety One Peachtree Tower. The Downtown TMA was integral in assisting with the rollout and communicating the value proposition to our customers.  Cousins Properties remains committed and focused on its partnership with the Downtown TMA and is appreciative of the value that they bring to all downtown constituencies.  We look forward to collaboratively sharing new and innovative programs in the future.
 
Jessica McNamara is an administrative manager at Cousins Properties Incorporated

It's a fresh start and a new year, filled with high hopes for "Code Green" air quality days, sizable savings on commute costs and laughter from the passenger seat.  Feel the optimism of 2012 with this latest "glass is half full" installment of Merging Lanes.  It's gonna be a great year.

2012 Calendar Dates to Anticipate
While this year's calendar is shaping up to include a number of important dates to circle - Leap Year bonus day and Mayan prognostications notwithstanding - here are a few that should catch your attention:

• April 30 kicks off the start of Air Quality Awareness Week in Georgia.  With half of all smog-forming emissions coming from tailpipes, never has it been more important to be air aware.

• July 31 is the day we'll know whether Georgia voters approved a penny sales tax to fund transportation improvements all over the state.  There's a lot riding on the outcome of this vote in terms of attracting new enterprise and breaking out of commuter gridlock. 

• August 20 marks the beginning of the third-annual Georgia Telework Week, an event to celebrate the successes of employers and commuters who know the best commute is the one from the bedroom to the home office.

And slated for early-November is the 12th installment of The Clean Air Campaign's PACE Awards event, recognizing the best commute options programs in Georgia.  Stay tuned for more details.     

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In Good Company for Less Traffic, Cleaner Air
More than 1,600 Georgia employers and property managers are working with The Clean Air Campaign and its partners on outstanding programs that support greater use of commute options.  Recently, 130 organizations received recognition as Platinum Partners for achieving a specific threshold of "clean commute trips" during 2011.  To qualify as a Platinum Partner, at least 20 percent of all employee or tenant trips to an employer’s worksite must involve alternatives to single-occupancy vehicle trips and companies must actively educate employees about commute options.  Congrats to these workplaces for raising the bar and proving that meaningful, lasting change in the way employees choose to travel is attainable.  

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"Let's Get Physical, Physical ..."
Hitting the wall with your New Year's resolution to exercise more?  When your conference call at work is placed on hold, there's only one thing better than listening to the Muzak version of Olivia Newton-John's "totally 80s" hit song: doing an actual workout routine at your desk.  When you can't make it to the gym, The Washington Post offered these ideas to integrate into your daily routine, resulting from a study on employee health.  No spandex required. 

Click here for a printable PDF poster to tack up in your cubicle.  And remember, if you don't feel comfortable with some of these moves in the presence of your co-workers, you can always fall back on a human-powered commute for better health.

Lane ends 500 feet.

Giant Bus!

China unveiled what is believed to be the world's largest bus, clocking in at more than 82 feet in length and capable of transporting up to 300 commuters.  Check it out! 

Could you imagine this thing rolling down Atlanta's Downtown Connector?  Could you imagine riding on it ... and logging your commute mode as "Giant Bus?" 

Merge.

Today The Clean Air Campaign released its inaugural list of Platinum Partners, recognizing employers and property managers whose employees and tenants use alternatives to driving alone for at least 20 percent of their commute trips. The initial list consists of 130 metro Atlanta and Georgia employers and property managers, including Georgia Tech. The Clean Air Campaign salutes Tech and all of the Platinum Partners achieving success in reducing traffic congestion and improving the quality of the air we breathe. When it comes to less traffic and cleaner air, these organizations are “In Good Company”. To view the complete list, click here.

- - -

Early last year our transportation planning staff realized it was difficult to gauge how effective we were being in providing commute alternatives for employees around the Georgia Tech campus.  We had great commute programs established, but we didn’t have the exact data needed to determine just how effective we were in encouraging campus members to use clean commutes.  The result was the University’s first annual commute mode survey in which staff and students that commute to campus were surveyed on their transportation patterns (campus residents were excluded).  The results were validating for our programs, and we found that over 41 percent of the Georgia Tech community was arriving to campus via alternatives to driving alone.   Here’s the breakdown:

Using this baseline that 59% of the Georgia Tech community was driving to campus alone, we also wanted to see how we could decrease single-occupancy trips and increase the number of clean commute trips.  Finding out what catalysts would change a person’s commute to Georgia Tech’s campus was just as important to us:

These survey results really sparked some substantial improvements in our commute programs, and we wanted to share some of our progress.

While the request for more car sharing vehicles like Zipcar was fairly small (5%), it was an easy, inexpensive win for us.  Today’s 18-34 year-olds are embracing the idea of collaborative consumption, and car-sharing use has been a great success story at Georgia Tech.  Because of increased demand, Zipcar-Atlanta was able to increase our fleet by 40% to 12 vehicles.

For carpooling we were a bit surprised at the number who deemed it difficult to find carpool matches (12%), as there are already many great resources to find rides in Atlanta.  What we found was that safety was a major concern in seeking a carpool partner, and so we established an exclusive carpool ride-matching service for Georgia Tech.  The feedback has been tremendous, with 1,600 new users in six months and over 450 ride posts.  With the new system we are now able to promote commuting to campus every day, as well as ride-sharing to away football games, spring break trips and weekend grocery store visits.

The biggest takeaway from the survey was the desire for more bicycle infrastructure on campus.  Increases in bicycle commuting have been well documented in Atlanta, and Georgia Tech is seeing a similar trend.  Georgia Tech wants to continue to promote this commuting option, and the Institute and Student Government have invested over $200,000 in new bicycle infrastructure, including bicycle racks, bike lanes, bike “sharrow” markings and an innovative bike-share system that is destined for mass-appeal.  Georgia Tech has also partnered with the Atlanta Bicycle Coalition, Midtown Alliance and the City of Atlanta to install the city’s first cycle track at the West Peachtree and 5th Street intersection in Technology Square.

We are proud of the progress we’ve made this past year in promoting commute options in Atlanta, and we look forward to seeing how the next commuter survey reflects these improvements.  This goes without saying, but Georgia Tech could not have accomplished these projects alone.  A big thanks to our community partners: Midtown Transportation Solutions @ Midtown Alliance, Lanier Parking Solutions, the Atlanta Bicycle Coalition, the City of Atlanta, Zipcar-Atlanta, viaCycle and The Clean Air Campaign.

Aaron Fowler is a Campus Transportation Planner at Georgia Tech.

The calendar says this is the time of year when many of us will look inward and reflect on life as we know it.  It’s the ideal time to look back on the year that was, take inventory of the pluses and minuses and chart a course for the year ahead.  The net result for many of us is that we find something we want to change about ourselves or our surroundings. 

Polls indicate we seldom stray from the big four resolutions: exercise more, save more money, spend more time with family, enjoy life more.  But everyone knows it’s hard to do “more.”  According to a research project out of the UK, only 12% of us make good on our resolutions.  What if we have it all wrong?  Maybe some of our resolutions should actually be framed around doing less.

When it comes to sustainability, addition by subtraction sometimes yields better results.   The Clean Air Campaign suggests these ideas to make less mean more in 2012:

Drive less. 
Every mile you’re not driving alone keeps a pound of pollution out of the air we breathe, puts 47 cents back in your pocket and gives you the opportunity to use your travel time to do the things you enjoy.

Make fewer excuses about why you can’t do it.
One in four vehicle trips covers less than a mile in distance.  There’s a whole network of options out there if you look around.  Push outside your comfort zone.  Walk or bicycle, and prove to yourself that you can get there.  Take the bus, and prove to yourself that you can read the route map.  Leave your car at home and prove to yourself that you don’t need it as a crutch while you’re at your workplace.  If you need a ride home, we’ve got your back. 

Pay less attention to the conventional wisdom of transportation policy. 
The model for transportation funding, which relies heavily on the motor fuel tax, could use some updating.  Georgians will go to the polls in 2012 to vote on a different funding model (referred to as a T-SPLOST) that could yield tens of billions of dollars in infrastructure improvements over the next decade – money we would not otherwise get from the motor fuel tax – by leveraging an additional penny sales tax.  Worth reading about so you can form your opinion and make you voice heard.

We want to hear from you.
What is your clean commute resolution? Leave a comment on this blog for the chance to win a $20 Simon Mall gift card.