Earth Day is just around the corner, and there is much you
can do to help our planet to breath better. Join the movement of April 22,
2019, and try to reduce your carbon footprint. There are many things you can
try on Earth Day and you can carry them into your routine if you like them.
Transportation is the fastest-growing contributor to greenhouse
gas (GHG) emissions in California. In 2016, it was responsible for 41% of the
emission, almost double the runner-up – industrial sector with 23%. Driving an
average gasoline car from Downtown Los Angeles to Downtown Glendale (~11 miles)
releases roughly 8lb of CO2 equivalent to the atmosphere per trip. It might not
seem much, but if you ever faced the traffic between those two cities, you can
imagine the number of cars emitting these 8lb every trip. If you are curious
how much your commute contributes to the pollution check out this website
and you can see your estimated emissions and the approximate cost of your
commute to the environment.
If you are convinced to change or at least give the Earth a
break on April 22, we can help you! You can walk, bike, take transit, or
carpool and help the planet (and your pocket). Apps such as Waze Carpool will
match you with commuters near you going to a similar destination, and you only
share the price of gas. Google maps, Citymapper, or Transit app will help you
determine the best transit route from your origin to destination AND give you
real-time info on your bus arrival. Check out our mobility app page
for more information on apps that can help your commute.
Did you know we only need 2 car-free trips per week per
person to achieve the California air quality goals? Yes, only 2! In your weekly
routine, can you find one day that you do not have to take extra trips, or you
do not need your personal car? If your answer is yes, you can help save the
planet! Check out Go Glendale’s post
to help you brainstorm ideas of how to be car-free for a day.
And if you need personal assistance on trip planning, Go
Glendale and 400 & 450 N Brand are hosting a joint event on Monday, April
22, 2019 from 11am to 2pm to talk about your commute options around Glendale.
Join us on the courtyard of the 400 & 450 N Brand Blvd for tips to make you
commute more sustainable and participate in our trivia. We will also have a
sustainable products market!
For more information,
contact us at [email protected],
and we will be happy to help.
Glendale is Reimagining Public Transit
Visit GlendaleTRA.com for a chance to win $100. Glendale is reimagining the bus network to create customer-focused routes, faster and more reliable travel times, and less waiting at bus stops. We invite you to tell them how they should reimagine our bus network in Glendale.
An improved bus system will benefit you: save time and money on parking, gas, and car maintenance; help green our world by reducing emissions and congestion; use your time on the bus to read or catch up on sleep.
Take the survey at GlendaleTRA.com. You could be a lucky winner of $100. Then spread the word – tell friends, family, and colleagues to take the survey, too.
Start the year with a change!
Can you believe it is December already? As the new year approaches, people start to think about what they liked about their year and what they can do differently next year. Probably being stressed in traffic is not on the top of any of your wish lists, but it is the reality of most commuters in Southern California. We are here to help!
Commuting to work is probably one of the first things you do in the morning and the last thing you do before going home to your family. But having a stressful commute can impact your productivity at work, your health, your social relations, and your family interactions. So why do we keep stressful commute habits or take them as the only options we have?
We put together a list of routine changes you can do to improve your day without a lot of changes in your schedule. Check it out!
1.Shake it up! You don’t have to commute the same way every day of the week.
Maybe Monday and Wednesday you have meetings in the morning and you don’t feel like waking up early, so you decide to carpool to work. That is awesome! But Tuesdays and Thursdays you decided to work on your health and bike to work instead. Now Friday is here and you are thinking about enjoying a happy hour with friends, so you take transit to work and an Uber/Lyft back home. Isn’t it perfect?
2. Mix and Match! You don’t have to take the same mode of transportation for your entire trip.
Do you have to drop your kids at daycare a few blocks from your house before going to work? Why don’t you also leave your car there and take transit to work? You can drive a few minutes, and then ride the train/bus to your destination without worrying about the traffic.
Or maybe you prefer not to have transfers on your commute, so you can choose the park-and-ride style. You drive to the nearest direct transit line, park, and take the bus/train to work.
This can also be a great solution if you live too far from work but really wanted to use your commute as your workout. You can ride transit for part of your commute and, when you are comfortable with the distance, you ride your bike or walk to work. That can also help with less transit transfers. And trains and buses have a place for your bike.
3. Spend time on yourself! Download/Stream that movie you always want to watch or take your favorite book with you.
We know that the average American routine doesn’t leave much time for reading or watching a good movie, so why not multi-task in the best way? If your transit commute takes longer than your driving commute, it doesn’t mean you are wasting your time, it might mean you are using your time wisely. For example, if you have a 30 minutes driving routine, that means you are exclusively driving for that 30 minutes. You shouldn’t be paying attention to anything else other than the road.
Now imagine you can substitute it for a 45 minutes bus/train ride. You don’t have to drive or pay attention to the road, so you can take that time to yourself; read a book, watch a movie, read the news, or check social media. Arriving home early because of the driving commute gives you 15 minutes more to do something you want, while taking transit can give you 45 minutes.
4. Get your workout done! Some commute habits can help you to get healthier while you commute to work.
It is very common that people don’t have time to exercise during the week. But if your commute can help you become more physical active without sparing much time of the day, why not enjoy it? Try walking or biking to work and, if biking and walking all the way to work is not possible for you, you can use tip 2 and mix and match your commute. Did you know that transit users, in average, walk more than drivers and walking is associated with improved health benefits?
5. Save money!
Another good reason to change your habits is saving a few bucks per month. Driving alone can be one of the most expensive commute modes in some regions of Southern California, but it is not your only option. When carpooling you can split the cost of gas among your carpooling partners, when walking or biking you can have an (almost) cost-free commute, and when taking transit you can buy monthly passes that will increase your savings.
6. Get social! Sharing your commute can improve your social interactions.
If you decided that commuting by car is the best option for you, you don’t have to do it alone. You can carpool with co-workers or neighbors and share the ride. Commuting partners help you reduce your stress level and open more possibility for social interactions. You can also alternate who is driving each day of the week and relax in the passenger seat some days. If you are interested in carpooling check the Waze Carpool and RideMatch.info or talk to your company’s HR to see if they have a carpooling list.
Now that you have more options for your commute, it is time to start your “2019 goals” list. And if you need personal assistance in finding your best commute option/route, join our commuter club.
Do you have more tips to share? Send us an e-mail ([email protected]) or comment below so we can spread the word.
A Holiday Ride
It is Holiday time! Time to put on the red sweater, drink hot chocolate and ride a train to visit the North Pole. And you can do all of that without leaving California! We found seven Holiday themed trains for you and your family to enjoy during this season.
If a normal train ride can be a magical time for kids, imagine riding with Santa?
CicLAvia is back and this time to the heart of Los Angeles!
There is no better way to spend your Sunday than having fun with friends and family, but this Sunday you can also discover the cultural gems of Downtown Los Angeles while enjoying a great bike ride. CicLAvia is open to every age and free, all you have to do is pick your bike and start riding. The event will happen on December 2, 2018, from 9am to 3pm. There are so many local gems to explore on the route, it’s a good idea to plan ahead (and prepare your camera for all the great pics!). Check out the location list and add your favorites to your itinerary!
CicLAvia closes automobile traffic in some streets to allow a better bike ride. You can also use your skate board, roller skate, scooter or simply walk around the area.
Remember that Metro buses/train, beeline buses and Metrolink train are bike friendly and the event is widely accessible by transit (click here to search for the best route). If you don’t have a bike, Metro bike share has several stations around the Downtown Los Angeles area and it is only $1.75 for the first half hour. Bike can be rented at the bike stations with credit cards. Check the stations here.
Alternative Transportation Day
Today we had the pleasure of distributing information at 400 & 450 N Brand and talking to the employees. The lunchtime event gave us the opportunity to talk to 20 employees in only one hour and help them with information about different commute modes. We encourage employees to walk, bike, carpool or take transit to work and help them with the most efficient route to take between home and work.
The 400 & 450 N Brand Management team was also present to spread the word about their alternative transportation reward program and distribute sweet treats to the employees. To complete our event, Metrolink held an information table with maps and schedules and assisted the employees with their train ticket options.
If you are a Go Glendale member interested in having a similar event at your worksite, contact us at [email protected] or 818-543-7641.
Adventist Health Glendale Event
Go Glendale had the pleasure of being a part of the Adventist Health Glendale Benefit Fair on Tuesday, November 06, 2018. It was a great event and a great opportunity for us to talk to employees about their transportation options to/from work and around Glendale. We talked to more than 100 employees and assisted them with the best routes to take and the benefits Adventist Health Glendale has to offer. We are more than happy to know that so many employees now have the information needed to try transit or carpool to work.
If you are a Go Glendale member interested in having a similar event at your worksite, contact us at [email protected] or 818-543-7641.
Free Rides on Election Day
Election day is Tuesday, November 6 2018, and you do not need a car to reach the polls. Metro buses and trains will be running free of charge on that day and you can simply board them, without using your TAP card. Isn’t it great?
But there is more good news! If you don’t feel like taking the bus, Metro Bikes is offering one free ride on election day. You can use the code “1162018” at any bike kiosk to get it. And if you are not around a Metro stop, other agencies around the Los Angeles area are offering free rides on that day. LADOT (Dash and Commuter Express), Pasadena Transit, Long Beach Transit, Baldwin Park Transit, Santa Clarita Transit and the Access Service will also be free on Tuesday, November 6 2018.
Lyft and Uber are also trying to help you get to the polls! Lyft is offering a 50% discount directly on the app or free rides with promo codes. Uber is offering a $10 dollar discount directly on the app.
Metrolink Round-Trip Promotion Extended
The Metrolink round-trip ticket promotion has been extended into the fall! If you are a resident, student or employee of one of our member organizations, you can apply today for a FREE Metrolink round-trip ticket. If you have not yet applied, click here and ask for your ticket.
You can chose any origin and destination station from any Metrolink line. Just remember that the round-trip ticket is only valid for 2 trips on the same day with matching origin and destination stations (A to B / B to A).
Only one entrance allowed per person. This promotion is valid while the stock lasts.
Any questions, please contact Camila Araujo at [email protected] or 818-543-7641.
