There will be one less car on locals’ daily commutes this week.
The One Less Car week is a collaborative initiative between UF’s Office of Sustainability and UF Parking and Transportation Services, where students, faculty and staff are encouraged to use sustainable transportation.
“Every Gator can make a difference while helping us move closer to our campus-wide goal of carbon neutrality by 2025,” Allison Vitt, outreach and communications coordinator for the Office of Sustainability, said in an email.
Alternatives to single-occupancy vehicles include Regional Transit System buses, bicycles, skateboards and carpool options through the transportation and parking services website, such as Zimride and Zipcar, said Matthew Williams, director of UF’s Office of Sustainability and Energy Integration.
“We’re asking people to sign up and make a commitment this week, and then, at some point during that week, choose one of their alternatives,” Williams said.
Williams said Gainesville has what is recognized as the best public transportation system in the state of Florida.
“Gainesville is really lucky as far as a small college town within north central Florida to have as many different sustainable transportation alternatives as we do,” Williams said.
UF’s Office of Sustainability and Energy Integration office is working to connect people who are uncertain about modes of sustainable transportation and help them come up with solutions that work for them.
“We’re helping people make the choice and have a positive experience doing it,” Williams said.
[A version of this story ran on page 3 on 11/17/2014]