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|  Bicyclists Air Quality Awareness Program |  |
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| Did You Know...
New York City DOT's Air Quality Awareness Program Transit Bicycling Walking Trip Chaining Commuter Choice The Premium TransitCheck Metrocard Maintenance Alternate Fuel Vehicles Ozone Simple Steps To Improving Air Quality In New York City Air Quality Awareness Program Partners
The New York City Department of Transportation has been participating in the national "It All Adds Up to Cleaner Air" initiative and its own Air Quality Awareness Program since Spring 1999. Several nonprofit and private organizations in the New York City area are sponsoring events and disseminating messages to promote public awareness about air pollution and suggest actions that New Yorkers can take to reduce the adverse effects of air pollution from vehicles. Air quality messages have been posted on billboards and advertisements installed on over 3,200 bus stop shelters Citywide. The air quality awareness message has also been incorporated into DOT programs, including the Safety Education Program curriculum. In October 2000, the Department received a Certificate of Appreciation jointly signed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Transportation. This was awarded to the City in recognition of its efforts to promote awareness about the links between travel choices and air quality. The Department of Transportation's participation in the “It All Adds Up to Cleaner Air” campaign, spanning more than five years, earned us the distinction of being named Community Partner Champion for March 2004 by “ It All Adds Up to Cleaner Air”, a unique public education and partnership-building initiative sponsored by the U.S. Department of Transportation's (DOT) Federal Highway Administration, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Office of Transportation and Air Quality, and DOT's Federal Transit Administration. Air Games
Encourage children to become aware of clean air. Try these Air Games (pdf). You can print the page and play the games. The Air Games is in PDF format.
  Take mass transit, share a ride or car pool. Call CommuterLink at 1-(866)-NY-COMMUTE or visit CommuterLink's Web site. Even if you do it just once or twice a week, you'll reduce traffic congestion and pollution and save money. The average driver spends about 44 cents per mile including ownership and maintenance.
 Know before you go. Check out the MTA Web site before you leave home so you won't get stuck in a jam. Before you hit the road, visit our real-time traffic cameras to see traffic movements at locations around the City and to help you get quickly through your commute. A significant portion of air pollution is as a result of vehicles on the road. You can help to reduce air pollution by taking mass transit, sharing a ride, or car-pooling so we can all breathe easier!
 Have fun! Drive your bike. It's a great way to travel and it can help you and the air get into condition. Vehicles on the road create more than 25% of all air pollution nationwide.
There are many interesting places your bike can take you. The Department of Transportation provides free New York City Cycling Maps for all five boroughs so you can be on your way to great places. The maps outline recommended on-street routes, existing and planned off street Greenways, bike shops, parks, schools, landmarks, museums, and other sites of interest. The maps also pinpoint how and where to access the subways, commuter rails, ferries and bridges in graphic information panels. They are easy to read, detailed, and informative for both recreational and commuter cyclists. Along with the Department of City Planning (DCP), DOT has also produced the New York City Bicycle MasterPlan, which identifies a 500-mile network of bicycle routes throughout the five boroughs and the first-ever New York Cycling Map. Visit our Bicycle page for information on the Do's and Don'ts of Safe Bicycling, the New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law sections and New York City Traffic Rules and Regulations that affect bicycling, a listing of available indoor bike parking, and information on the CityRacks program, which provides free sidewalk bicycle parking racks throughout the five boroughs.  
Walk or in-line skate instead of driving. These are easy ways to get exercise and they are also easy on the air! Not only is walking great exercise but it also allows you to take in the scenery around you-things you wouldn't be able to do so easily while driving. Walking is beneficial to your health and the good thing is, it doesn't create pollution or congestion. Try walking more often for your short trips. That stroll around the neighborhood may just turn out to be a regular exercise routine and who knows, you may meet a new neighbor or two on the way. See Safety City to learn about safe walking for children.  Combining your errands into one trip means more time in your life! Trip chain more often. It's easy! Chances are, you're already doing it-combining your errands into one trip. It means less traffic congestion and less pollution.
Did you know? When you first start a car after it has been sitting for more than an hour, it pollutes up to five times more than when the engine's warm.  Currently, the City offers civilian employees an opportunity to use pre-tax earnings to cover public transportation costs. Thousands of New York City employees save at least $200 a year with the new Premium TransitChek Metrocard. By enrolling in the TransitBenefit Program, employees are able to purchase premium cards with pre-tax dollars through payroll deductions. As a result, the employee does not pay Federal, State, City, Social Security, and Medicare taxes on payments for the card.
The Premium TransitChek Metrocard is a special annual, unlimited ride Metrocard designed exclusively for eligible employees of the City of New York. The program allows employees to receive a single Premium Card that can be used for a continuous twelve-month period. When the employee receives the Premium Card, he or she gets unlimited use of the subway and New York City local buses every day, 24-hours a day, including weekends and holidays.
The cost of the Premium Card is $63 a month. Employees make equal payments of $29.08 from their pre-tax earnings each biweekly payday. After the first deductions, the employee is eligible to receive a Premium Card. Commuter Choice is a great way for employers and their employees to save money. Transit tax saving programs give employees great tax savings on their commute while reducing the employer's payroll costs. Regular maintenance is not only easy on the air but on your pocket as well.
 Vehicles on the road contribute significantly to air pollution in New York City. Even though they are a necessary means of transportation, they are also damaging to the environment. These vehicles release pollutants into the air that negatively impact our air quality. That is why DOT promotes the use of alternate fuel vehicles through its Alternative Fuels Program. The varied alternate vehicles include natural gas, hybrid, E85 (ethanol), and electric vehicles that are easier on the environment.
Don't top off the tank.
 Topping off the tank when refueling releases gas fumes into the air and cancels the benefits of the pump's anti-pollution devices. So stopping short of a full tank is safer and reduces pollution.
Refuel at night.
Refueling at night can prevent gas fumes from heating up and creating ozone. And that can help reduce ozone alert days.
 Ozone is the most widespread air pollution problem in the country and the metropolitan area. Ozone is a very irritating gas that may cause permanent damage to the lungs on repeated exposure. It is a major component of smog and is created by sunlight reacting with chemicals found in gasoline vapors and emissions from cars and industrial smoke stacks.
The Ozone Action Day campaign provides information on the actions that the public can take to reduce ground level ozone pollution.
During an ozone alert, individuals and organizations should:
Several nonprofit and private organizations in the New York City area sponsor events, public service announcements and electronic and media messages to promote public awareness about transportation choices and air quality. These public service announcements are viewed by thousands of New Yorkers daily throughout the New York City area. Partners involved in strategies for this initiative include:
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