GREEN COMMUTER FAIR SETS NEW RECORD


It was a record-breaking Green Commuter Fair this fall with more Cougars than ever signing up for METRO Q cards. Almost 650 students signed up to use public transportation and reduce the amount of carbon emissions resulting from traveling individually to campus.

Green UH and METRO hosted the Green Commuter Fair on September 7-8 at from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. METRO representatives were conveniently located on campus at Philip Guthrie Hall and the UC Satellite to register students and print out student Q-cards on site. All student riders get 50 percent off fares when they use their Q cards to ride METRO buses or the light rail.

�Students sign up for METRO Q cards for many reasons, often that it�s cheaper and/or it is close to where they live. Even if their primary motivation isn�t environmental, the Earth sure thanks them! The amount of carbon saved compared to if they would�ve been driving in a car by themselves is huge! It�s great to have Cougars going green,� said Leah Wolfthal, Program Coordinator for Sustainability.

Receiving a student Q card was easier than ever this semester with the recent removal of a photo requirement for the student cards. During the fair, students simply filled out a form, presented a photo ID and the cards were printed on-site.

Students who were unable to pick up their Q cards during the fair can visit the parking service desk at the Welcome Center to claim their cards. Students should be sure to bring a photo ID when picking up their card. The parking services desk is open Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Hertz on Demand was also on campus during the fair at the Philip Guthrie Hall location to sign up students for the car sharing program. Members of Hertz on Demand can rent one of four vehicles on campus for an hourly rate that includes gas, insurance and even a built-in GPS. Membership is free online at www.hertzondemand.com.

�The increased interest in riding mass transit and car sharing indicates that students are more aware of their commuting needs. They are making decisions now that will have a direct impact on the future of transportation in the city,� said Maria Honey, Assistant Director for Marketing and Communications, University Services and Housing.

For more information on alternative transportation or to become a green commuter, visit https://www.uh.edu/pts/greencommute.htm.