Apr 22 2009
This Earth Day, April 22, families throughout the United States will view the highly anticipated film, Earth, for the first time. Rather than packing into parking lots, transit experts encourage families to travel to theaters using local public transportation methods instead. Kidd Transportation Group, a targeted marketing team catering to the transit industry, along with other proponents of energy-efficient travel statewide are encouraging American families to travel "green" this Earth Day.
"National ridership numbers for public transit have been at record highs in recent years," said Kelly Robertson, Director of Kidd Transportation Group. "We hope this pattern continues as Earth Day heightens awareness of alternative methods of transportation. What better way to share the experience and lesson with children than by taking a bus ride together?"
According to PublicTransportation.org, public transit use in the United States saves 1.4 billion gallons of gasoline each year, almost four million gallons of gasoline per day. On average, a public transit rider consumes roughly half the oil consumed by an automobile rider. Safety being a concern for any parent, the National Safety Council estimates that riding the bus is actually more than 170 times safer than an automobile.
"Using public transportation as a family allows parents to teach their children about individual environmental impact," said Vivian Young, AICP, Communications Director for 1000 Friends of Florida, a non-profit organization that promotes healthy urban and natural places by wise management of growth and change. "It's these small, sensible decisions that help to reduce our impact on the environment, ultimately protecting our children's future."
The Earth movie is presented by Disneynature Films. Sharing the story of three animal families and their journey across Earth, the film will make a fitting destination for families choosing a greener route this Wednesday.
To learn where your family can find public transportation in your area or for additional facts, visit KiddTransportationGroup.com.