Participate in Rideshare Week and California Clean Air Day
By City Manager Ken Striplin
Did you know that more than 75 percent of commuters choose to drive alone to their destination? This staggering statistic contributes to our local road congestion, air pollution and a depletion of natural resources.
October is here, and that means Rideshare Week is quickly approaching. From Monday, October 3, through Friday, October 7, residents have the opportunity to rethink their commute and participate in this program for the chance to win prizes. During Rideshare Week, local alternative modes of transportation, including walking, biking, carpooling, riding Metrolink or utilizing Santa Clarita Transit, are highly encouraged to replace single-occupant vehicle commutes.
Luckily, our City makes it easy to commute safely by way of our off-street, multi-use trail network. The City’s 100-plus miles of trails offer scenic vistas that allow users to enjoy a picturesque ride to their destination.
In our organization, the City of Santa Clarita promotes ridesharing through our ongoing Employee Rideshare Program, which offers incentives to all regular employees who choose to utilize alternative modes of transportation. Additionally, some of these methods can also help contribute to a healthier and more sustainable lifestyle by reducing the risk of disease, supporting cardiovascular health and reducing stress levels.
Throughout the week, all Santa Clarita residents are encouraged to participate and share their Rideshare Week activities on social media using the hashtag #RideShareSC. Each use of the hashtag will count toward a raffle entry with the chance to win one of several amazing prizes, including gift cards to local restaurants, bike gear and movie tickets. Winners will be contacted through social media shortly after the conclusion of the week.
In addition to Rideshare Week, the City will join the state in participating in this year’s California Clean Air Day on Wednesday, October 6. Clean Air Day was built on the idea that every individual has a role in creating new habits to mitigate air pollution, which includes rideshare activities and driving an electric vehicle (EV). I am happy to report that within the first six months of 2022, City-owned EV charging stations conducted more than 7,000 charging sessions, compared to just over 3,000 in the same period of 2021, which is a usage increase of more than 135 percent! To celebrate California Clean Air Day, all City-owned EV charging stations will be free of charge on October 6, so you can contribute to this important environmental initiative.
In the meantime, I encourage you to visit GreenSantaClarita.com to view a full list of local charging stations near you. Residents can also visit SantaClaritaTransit.com to view a full list of routes that connect to their commute destinations. I hope you will choose to participate in the 2022 Rideshare Week and California Clean Air Day!
Ken Striplin is Santa Clarita’s City Manager and can be reached at kstriplin@santaclarita.gov.
