Sharing Rides, Cutting Pollution Emphasized

If all goes as planned, traffic in the San Fernando Valley will be lighter than usual for five days as many local commuters car-pool or use alternative modes of transportation to observe the 12th annual California Rideshare Week.

Southern California Rideshare will offer several events and incentives beginning today to get what it hopes will be hundreds of thousands of commuters to take a pledge to do what they can to “break the drive-alone habit,” said Cheryl Collier, manager of Southern California Rideshare.

Pledge cards will be available throughout the workweek through the Rideshare program, which helps find carpool partners and transit options for commuters.

The cards can be redeemed with Rideshare for prizes, ranging from $2,000 in cash to emergency kits, stereo equipment and Metrolink passes.

On Friday, Metrolink monthly pass holders can bring a friend onto the train free, and at the Chatsworth Depot, 21510 Devonshire St., Metrolink will provide a free breakfast from 5:30 to 9 a.m.

Officials said that each Southern California commuter puts a pound of pollution in the air every day.

Workers who carpool one day per week can eliminate as much as 50 pounds of pollution in a year, and cut traffic by 14%, according to the Southern California Assn. of Governments.

Rideshare officials said that car-pooling is the most popular alternative to driving alone, with more than one in six commuters sharing a car or van.

Other alternatives are riding a bicycle, walking, telecommuting and taking the train or bus.

Pledge cards can be obtained by calling (800) 266-6883, or online at https://www.scag.ca.gov/commute.