Today, we joined County Supervisor Nathan Fletcher, San Diego City Councilmember Chris Ward, and other members of the Coalition for Clean Air, to announce upcoming activities for the second annual California Clean Air Day on Wednesday, Oct. 2.
A variety of FREE activities will take place across our region and the state next week, providing opportunities for everyone to do their part to reduce air pollution. Many of these activities target transportation-related pollution. Transportation is a leading source of air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions (GHG).
The movement of people and goods accounts for 41 percent of the carbon emissions in California and about 50 percent in our region. Due to pollution from transportation and other sources, the San Diego-Carlsbad metropolitan area is ranked as the sixth most ozone-polluted in America by the American Lung Association.
SDG&E is helping to reduce air pollution by expanding the electric vehicle charging infrastructure in our region, so it’s easier for people and businesses to make the transition to zero-emissions vehicles. SDG&E Director of Clean Transportation Brittany Syz participated in the Clean Air Day announcement today, highlighting our transportation electrification initiatives.
Clean Air Day Activities
You can join in and take small actions that add up to make a big difference to help support Clean Air Day. Read more about the Clean Air Day pledge below, and other easy ways you can participate:
Rideshare Week, Sept. 30 – Oct. 4
Sept. 30 – Oct. 4 is National Rideshare week. When you rideshare, or carpool, you can save money and help reduce air pollution and traffic congestion.
For more information visit: https://icommutesd.com/events/rideshare-week
Clean Air Day, Oct. 2
Join your fellow San Diegans on Wednesday, Oct. 2, to “clear the air” as part of California Clean Air Day. Everyone is encouraged to take a pledge to take actions – such as riding transit or not idling your car – to help reduce air pollution. You can choose from list of 17 common actions to help the environment. Around 750,000 pledges have already been made. Help the Clean Air Coalition reach its goal of securing 1 million pledges.
For more information and to take a pledge, visit https://cleanairday.org/
Electric Vehicle Test Drive, Oct. 2
Experience first-hand what it feels to drive an electric vehicle (EV) with a free test drive event at the County Administration Center from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. SDG&E’s Clean Transportation team will be on-hand to answer all of your questions and offer information about our special electricity pricing plans for EV drivers and all the benefits of driving electric.
Free Ride Day – Oct. 2
Take advantage of the region’s second annual Free Ride Day by hopping on a bus, train or Trolley instead of driving solo. Both public transit agencies in our region – San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) and North County Transit District (NCTD) – are offering Free Ride Day.
All rides on the Trolley system, fixed bus routes, and SPRINTER and COASTER trains will be free.
Increasing transit ridership and reducing solo drivers on the road helps reduce the use of gasoline, which is a key contributor to ozone. According to the 2017 American Public Transportation Fact Book, public transportation conserves 4.16 billion gallons of gas per year.