TUCSON, Ariz. — Nearly 4,000 people walked and biked their way to Reid Park for the Tucson Earth Day Festival and Parade on April 19 to show how much they care about the environment as a part of Clean Air Days 2008.

The program started in 1990 as a one-day event that encouraged Tucsonans to trade in their cars for the day and bike to work. Since then, Clean Air Days has expanded and is now a month-long extravaganza.

“We’ve had more participation than we’ve ever had before,” said Beth Gorman, program manager for Pima County Department of Environmental Quality. “I think there is just a more acute awareness of the environment.”

The Earth Day celebration moved to Reid Park this year from its previous location downtown. Despite the new location, Gorman said this year’s attendance almost doubled from last year’s turnout.

“It’s a new venue and a new effort,” she said. “We are very happy that we were able to get that many people.”

As part of the program, the Clean Air Contest was implemented to further encourage people to bike, walk or use public transportation instead of gas-guzzling cars. There are currently more than 800 contestants, Gorman said.

The contestant with the lowest computed carbon emission for the month of April will win. Donations from local companies and organizations make the contest possible.

Although an increase in participation in the Clean Air Days events have city officials excited, the transformation to a greener city could require more work.

“It’s a step in the right direction,” said Jeffrey Silvertooth, head of the University of Arizona Department of Soil, Water and Environmental Science. “When you’re trying to change people’s behavior, you have to be patient about it.”

Silvertooth said he thinks a three-fold plan to a greener city is the best approach. He said the transformation needs to start with effective education followed up with a plan. Lastly and most importantly, Silvertooth said, endurance is key.

“You have to stick with it,” he said.

“My biggest concern with this is that people will run out and do the event but then run away afterwards and forget about it,” Silvertooth added.

The step in the right direction looked more like a leap to Tom Thivener, a bicycle and pedestrial coordinator for the City of Tucson.

“It was a pretty awesome month for us,” Thivener said. “I think it’s making a difference.”

Dozens of people are pledging to get back on their bikes again, Thivener said.

“It’s partly due to the rising awareness of environmental concerns, not to mention the cost of gas is just going through the roof,” he said.

Regardless of why people are making the change, Silvertooth believes more can be done.

“The most important thing is that (the program) gets people thinking about it,” Silvertooth said. “It’s going to require a little bit of change.”

Tucson bike maps:

courtesy of Arizona Department
of Transportation