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Alternative Transportation

Julie Bercik

Story Created: Sep 18, 2008 at 6:10 PM CDT

Story Updated: Sep 18, 2008 at 6:10 PM CDT

Gas prices are dropping, but not quickly enough; gas in Columbus is no longer $4.29 a gallon.

While the spike has put a strain on just about everyone's wallets, some people are actually saving 40 percent a month on gas.

NBC 38's Julie Bercik explains.

At 6:40 a.m. Mike Edwards is ready for work. But he’s not relying on four wheels to get him there, he's using his feet.

"It's about five miles, get to work, take a shower, get to my desk and I'm all relaxed,” said Edwards.

Three days a week mike makes the 50 minute run from his North Columbus home to Bill Heard Enterprises in Brookstone.

"I go down Airport Thruway, Veterans, Whitesville, behind Char-broil and then here to Brookstone,” he said.

Mike is actually running for the environment. He's one of hundreds enrolled in the Clean Air Campaign. The project is geared toward minimizing air pollution. Participants actually get paid for their eco-friendly efforts.

"You get three dollars a day for every day you participate,” said Edwards.

If running isn't your thing, there are still plenty of ways you can still participate in the program, whether it's riding your bike to work or carpooling. Employees at TSYS say it’s simple. TSYS is one of the first companies in Columbus participating in the program.

"It's going great they couldn't make it easier for us. I come to work in the morning, go to their Web site, indicate whether I drove alone or carpooled,” said Rich Maurer, TSYS employee.

Rich carpools from Auburn as much as he can. Knowing that he's helping the environment is important to him, the financial savings is an added bonus.

"I figured I was saving about 40 percent of what I was spending before,” said Maurer.

When TSYS first heard about the program, team members were instantly informed; 125 employees enrolled.

"It's really nice that we're in a central location , people who live in the surrounding neighborhoods could ride their bike to work, they could walk to work,” said Erin Murphy, TSYS Communication.