Contact: Sandi Moody, Executive Director

Contact: Sandi Moody, Executive Director

or Cindy McGeough, Marketing Manager

Phone: (813) 282-8200 or (800) 998-7433

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 20, 2004

Celebrate the Tampa Bay Area 8^th Annual Commuter Choices Week!

Mark Your Calendars . . . Bay Area Commuter Services (BACS) announces the Tampa Bay Area 8^th Annual Commuter Choices Week (CCW), October 4-9, 2004. This week-long series of events helps to educate the general public, local government and the media about commute options and the benefits of reducing traffic congestion (and helping to keep our air clean).

CCW promotes carpooling, vanpooling, riding the bus, bicycling, walking, teleworking, and flexible work hour programs. To publicize the diversity of commute options, a series of fun public events will be held in Hillsborough and Pinellas counties throughout the week. (Event schedule next page)

BACS encourages motorists to fill out and submit a commitment card, promising to use a commute option other than driving alone to work at least one day during CCW. Hopefully, participants will continue their commute option once they discover the cost savings and reduced stress that comes with ridesharing.

Employers and organizations are invited to get involved and support Commuter Choices Week by ordering FREE commitment cards and posters from BACS. Participants who return a completed commitment card by the deadline are eligible to win valuable prizes, including hotel accommodations for two nights for two at the Belleview Biltmore Resort, Golf Club & Spa in Clearwater.

For more information, contact Bay Area Commuter Services (BACS), the “Way To Go” people at (800) 998-RIDE (7433) or visit our website at www.TampaBayRideShare.org.

Bay Area Commuter Services is the non-profit, regional commuter assistance program agency for West Central Florida covering Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco, Hernando and Citrus counties dedicated to reducing traffic congestion and air pollution by encouraging the use of various commute options (other than driving alone). BACS was founded and is operationally funded by the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT).

Commuter Choices Week Event Schedule:

Contact: Sandi Moody, Executive Director (smoody@atlantic.net)

Cindy McGeough, Marketing Manager (cmcgeough@atlantic.net)

Phone: (813) 282-8200 or (800) 998-7433

Learn more about commuting choices! Visit us at one of these fun events:

(Pre-CCW Kickoff)

Lykes Park Lunchtime Fair

Friday, October 1, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

Downtown Tampa

Lykes Square on Franklin Street Mall between Kennedy & Madison

Host Agency: Tampa Downtown Partnership TMO

Event Coordinator: Karen Kress, 813-221-3686, kkress@tpadowntown.com

Festival at Central & 3rd Street

Monday, October 4, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

Downtown St. Petersburg

Parking lot adjacent to Bank of America tower

Host Agency: St. Petersburg Downtown Partnership TMO

Event Coordinator: Eric Carlson, 727-821-5166, eric@stpetepartnership.org

USF Transportation Fair

Tuesday, October 5, 11:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.

USF Campus outside Marshall Center

Partner Host Agencies: New North Transportation Alliance, University of South Florida

Event Coordinator: Heather Sobush, 813-974-9799, sobush@cutr.usf.edu

Station Square Park Festival

Wednesday, October 6, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

Downtown Clearwater

Station Square Park on Cleveland Street

Partner Host Agencies: Pinellas County MPO, Bay Area Commuter Services

Event Coordinator: Sue Ebner, 813-282-8200, sebner@atlantic.net

CCW at WestShore Plaza

Thursday, October 7, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

WestShore Plaza

Host Agency: Westshore Alliance TMO

Event Coordinator: Susan Chiellini, 813-289-5488, chiellini@westshorealliance.org

Telework Friday (no scheduled event)

Visit www.TeleworkTampaBay.org to learn more about telework programs in Tampa Bay!

Beauties of the Beach

Saturday, October 9, 1:00-4:00 p.m.

Pier 60 Pavilion, Clearwater Beach

Host Agency: Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority

Event Coordinator: Rachel Lee, 727-533-4374, rlee@psta.net