Atlanta area residents log thousands of miles of clean trips during Georgia Commute Options’ Million Air Challenge to improve air quality as traffic increases contribute to smog and environmental warming
Atlanta, GA (August 31, 2021) – Metro Atlanta residents rallied to clear the air this month by participating in the Million Air Challenge. Georgia Commute Options (GCO) challenged people to remove 1M pounds of carbon dioxide (CO2) from the air by recording 1M miles of clean trips.
The inaugural event was a resounding success with 3,108 participants clearing the air of 938,000 pounds of pollution through 1,059,992 miles of clean trips!
“The event exceeded our expectations,” says Jill Goldberg, marketing and communications director for Georgia Commute Options. “We set a high bar and our community rose to the challenge! It goes to show how our everyday commuting choices really can make a big difference in our region’s air quality.”
“As people begin to return to the office, and schools resume session, we wanted to focus on the benefits of having cleaner air for our environment,” says Roz Tucker, Georgia Commute Options’ managing director. “Even though we’re seeing an increase in traffic since the pandemic, we don’t want to lose sight of how we can all become better global citizens in regard to taking care of Earth while improving mobility on our roads.”
Participants of the Million Air Challenge were encouraged to walk, bike, use scooters, take public transportation, carpool, vanpool and telework, instead of driving alone in their cars. Prizes included a $500 gift card for outdoor gear from High Country Outfitters and a set of Apple AirPods Pros.
The Million Air Challenge, presented by Georgia Commute Options, ran August 16 – 27. Partner organizations included Trees Atlanta, AERO, ASAP+, Central Atlanta Progress, Clifton Corridor Transportation Management Association, Livable Buckhead, Midtown Alliance and Perimeter Connects.
For media questions/bookings, contact Joel Wascher, JWascher@AtlantaRegional.org, 470-698-6106; or Tenisha Taylor, Tenisha.Taylor@OdonnellCo.com, 470-552-1414.
About Georgia Commute Options
Georgia Commute Options, a program managed by the Atlanta Regional Commission and funded through the Georgia Department of Transportation, works with employers, commuters and schools to encourage drivers who ride alone to make the switch to a commute alternative such as riding transit, teleworking, carpooling, vanpooling, walking and/or biking, with the ultimate goal of reducing congestion and the emissions that contribute to smog pollution. For more information, visit www.GACommuteOptions.com and follow Georgia Commute Options on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram. Get access to cash incentives by logging your clean commute on our website or through the Georgia Commute App, which is available for download via the App Store or Google Play.