Pocono News Section

Smart Travel" by Geisinger Employees

Smart Travel" by Geisinger Employees - Wednesday, July 16, 2008 at 5:30PM EST

" Reported by: Jeremy Deebel
Wednesday, Jul 16, 2008 @ 05:30pm EST
Danville, Montour County-

Employees at one local hospital found new ways to get to work today. And they managed to help out the environment along the way.

Before punching in for the old 9 to 5, some Geisinger employees got creative in how they came to work. Some chose to walk, others enjoyed a ride on their bike, and still others linked up for a carpool.

The dozen or so employees who took part in the "Smart Travel Day" saved over 200 miles today. Senior Research Assistant Nina Bastian noted, "We have just been trying to make people more aware of what they're doing in this building and we want people to work environmentally-friendly."

Bastian came up with the "Smart Travel Day" initiative. She's trying to convince all of her co-workers to be a little more "green."

"What we're really trying to do is reduce carbon dioxide emissions and make people more aware of the pollution they're causing in their ordinary lives," Bastian added.

She has also been including "green" tips in the employee's monthly newsletter. It's a challenge that many have taken to heart.

Laurie Fitzpatrick, of Riverside, biked all the way to work, even dropping her daughter off at daycare on the way in. She explained, "It's a way to save money on gasoline. It's a way to conserve energy. And it's a way to get some exercise...It's just little changes like that that will make a big difference in the long run."

The organizers of the "Smart Travel Day" hope to make it a monthly event and expand it by including more people each time.