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LeeTran offers free rides on “Try Transit Day”

By Staff | Apr 18, 2011

Lee County residents can save money, save gas and go green by riding LeeTran for free next Tuesday, April 19.

With fuel prices steadily rising, LeeTran hopes to attract new riders whose budgets are strained each time they fill their tanks.

“Many people are unfamiliar with our transit system,” explains Transit Director Steve Myers. “We may be able to take them to work, school, or shopping at a significant savings. We’d like them to consider us as an alternative to driving a single-occupancy vehicle.”

The cost of an all-day pass on LeeTran is $3.50 – less than one gallon of regular gas. The cost of an unlimited monthly pass is $35, or just $1.13 per day.

“Drivers can visit our website, rideleetran.com, and use a simple Transit Savings Calculator to find out how much money LeeTran can save them,” Myers said.

For those who are considering riding for the first time, LeeTran’s website also has a TripPlanner, which will create a step-by-step set of directions for any trip. Those without Internet access may call LeeTran customer service at 533-8726 (LEE-TRAN) Monday through Saturday between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.

LeeTran’s “Try Transit Day” is part of a regional celebration of Earth Week called Transportation Transformation 2011: Taking It to the Streets SWFL. Its goal is to get Southwest Floridians to use alternate modes of transportation–walking, biking, taking the bus, carpooling or vanpooling. This joint venture among Lee County, the City of Fort Myers, Florida Department of Transportation and more, offers participants the chance to win prizes, save time and money, reduce stress and get active. For more information, visit CommuterServicesFL.com, call (866) 585-RIDE or visit UGottaGoGreen.

Officials urge you to ‘Taking it to the streets’

A ‘Transportation Transformation’ campaign begins in Southwest Florida Wednesday, April 13. It is a five-county, regional exploration of a full range of transportation choice, Transportation events and activities will span Earth Week and culminate on Saturday, April 23.

The City of Fort Myers in association with Lee County and other municipalities from SWFL are “Taking it to the Streets”. We have strong support from Mayor Randall P. Henderson Jr. and the Lee County elected officials for this campaign which is a partnership of individuals, businesses, colleges, advocacy groups, governmental agencies and anyone who wants to participate leading a multi-modal transportation awareness-to-action campaign.

Simply choose action items from our list of suggestions or create your own activity. Schedule and complete your activities leading up to or during the campaign period of April 13-23. Participate: as an employer, as a community leader, as an individual, as a student or as a team. Whatever you are planning, let us know emailing at takingittothestreets@cityftmyers.com‘>takingittothestreets@cityftmyers.com, or visit us on Facebook at “Taking it to the Streets SWFL” so we can promote your initiative!

Get recognized and rewarded for your efforts by tracking your activities through www.CommuterServicesFL.com‘>www.CommuterServicesFL.com.

· Get out there and go for a ride…on a bike, in a carpool, on the bus

n Learn about your local transit system and explain it to someone you know;

n Organize or join a biking club or sponsor or host a Biking/Walking Safety Presentation;

n Organize worksite team competitions or neighborhood “Street Party” challenges;

n Lunch and Learn: Get creative with your team! What can you do to be part of the campaign?;

n Try it Day: As a group, plan to walk, bike, bus or share a ride. Track your trips and send us photos!;

n Meet your Match: in a group (and with a map) find your nearest neighbor and arrange a “trial” carpool;

Whether you walk, bike, bus or share-a-ride, making conscious decisions to change the way you commute and get from one place to another is the goal of this campaign.

Walking and cycling, two of the easiest ways to exercise, build muscle strength and tone, improve cardio-vascular fitness and mental acuity, help in weight loss and reduce stress. Integrating these into daily work and errand schedules as viable transportation options can improve individual health as well as that of the environment. More compelling perhaps is the $600+/ month savings realized for each car no longer owned or operated.

All participants are asked to document their success by logging onto the Commuter Services’ website and access the Trip Track program link, to calculate and record Vehicle Miles Reduced at CommuterServicesFL.com .

Commuter Services personnel can assist, at no cost, with ideas and overcoming obstacles and be reached at 1-866-585-RIDE. For more ideas and to learn about regional events, please visit www.UGottaGoGreen.com‘>www.UGottaGoGreen.com. To register transportation action/activities and sign up for tracking tools go to CommuterSevicesFL.com.

Individual choices can improve an entire community. Together, we will create a “Sustainable Southwest Florida.”