The success of Peterborough’s Shifting Gears program has prompted organizers at Loyalist College to challenge staff and students to switch things up for the sake of the environment and their health. The week of October 3 to 7, they will be encouraged to use alternate forms of transportation, other than single use vehicle, during the College’s “Get to Work – Switch Gears” event. Suggested modes of travel for the week include walking, cycling, carpooling, or using the city bus.
Each day during the event, a different mode of transportation will be highlighted and the benefits of these eco-friendly and economical means of travel will be displayed in the cafeteria. Participants will be provided with tracking sheets that will allow organizers to track the amount of CO2 emissions that have been saved as a result of the campaign.
On Wednesday, October 5, a Safe Cycling Practices Workshop will be held in the Loyalist cafeteria from noon to 1 p.m. At the end of the week, the number of participants and the number of kilometres travelled will be tallied and converted to CO2 carbon credits showing an estimated savings for the participating collective. A draw for bus tickets will be held for those who submit a tracking sheet.
Organizers of the event are hopeful that the week will inspire more students and members of the community at large to think about how they can make a difference for the environment simply by choosing an alternate means of travel to their place of work.
“We are delighted that the Switching Gears program is being organized on campus next week,” said Loyalist President Maureen Piercy. “This is a wonderful initiative which reinforces the College’s commitment to Sustainability in a very real way, and I want to congratulate the members of the College community who have developed and promoted the program, and of course, the participants.”
For more information, visit the blog spot at: gettowork-switchgears.blogspot.com