As the St. Louis Cardinals prepare to return to Busch Stadium on Thursday, thousands of baseball fans will flock to the streets of downtown St. Louis to celebrate the highly anticipated home opener. While there will be lots of food, fun and entertainment for families and fans both inside and outside the stadium throughout the day, the festivities are anything but a party for the environment.
Fortunately, there are plenty of resources available to help area residents take voluntary steps toward improving the quality of the air we breathe, starting by taking advantage of the alternative transportation modes the city has to offer. You might even be surprised at how simple it can be to adopt just one of many possible eco-friendly actions into your game day travel plans to reduce harmful emissions and help people all across the St. Louis region breathe easier this baseball season.
Metro Transit is a great option for fans to get downtown and join the festivities – safely and conveniently – while also avoiding traffic, congestion and parking hassles. Hop aboard MetroBus to catch the #40 North Broadway route or ride on any one of 13 MetroBus routes to the Civic Center Transit Center, which is located just a few blocks west of Busch Stadium. Otherwise, leave your car at any one of 20 free Park-Ride lots located at MetroLink stations in Missouri and Illinois, purchase a $5 round-trip MetroLink ticket and ride to the Stadium MetroLink Station to get to Busch Stadium, Ballpark Village or Kiener Plaza. You can also take MetroLink to one of the other five downtown MetroLink stations to enjoy pre-game rallies and activities while cutting down on harmful auto emissions.
Ridesharing services such as Uber and Lyft also match drivers of private vehicles to those seeking transportation and are another great option to eliminate the use of multiple vehicles. With transportation-related emissions being one of the biggest contributors to air pollution, you can do your share for cleaner air by opting for a ridesharing service to get you to the ballpark or carpool with friends to cut down on the number of vehicles on the road, which ultimately leads to fewer automobile emissions, reduced traffic congestion and improved air quality. Last but not least, if you’re looking to enjoy a brew or two before the game, consider taking a complimentary shuttle from local establishments like Big Daddy’s Soulard or Llywelyn’s Pub – that way you’ll also save money, avoid the hassles of parking and help keep the region’s air quality in healthy ranges!
For more great tips on how to enjoy a greener game day experience and achieve cleaner air all year long, visit the Clean Air Partnership website, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter at @gatewaycleanair. GO CARDS!
