Tolosa Press: SLO City News
Local Tourism Set to Go Green
by Camas Frank
The county should brace itself for a wave of ecofriendly tourists. At least that’s the hope of a group of local businesses that have banded together in an effort to promote a new vision for sight seers, one without a car.
The San Luis Obispo Air Pollution Control District (APCD)’s SLO Car Free program kicked off Nov. 19 with a ribbon, and cake-cutting ceremony with County Supervisor Katcho Achadjian, who chairs the APCD board. Representatives from local hotels, tour companies, and transport services packed into the San Luis Obispo Regional Airport’s massive hanger for the festivities.
The airport is partnering with the APCD’s efforts in part because travelers who commit to leave their car behind will still need a way to get here. Thanks to new engine designs, said San Luis Jet Center president William Borgsmiller, the math works out to make air travel one of the less destructive transportation methods, at least in terms of the planet’s acreage consumed
While the event wasn’t as heavily attended by members of the general public as the organizers had hoped, those that did turn out were treated to a raffle of prizes, live music from a band made up of APCD employees and the unusual sight of a large penguin riding a bike around the hanger. Andy Mutziger said of his black and white costume, “I’m just telling people that if a penguin can ride a bike, anybody can.”
“The whole purpose of the event and program is to educate the public on the options we have available,”Achadjian said. “The Air Quality Control District’s goal with it is to reduce our carbon foot print. Not all the infrastructure is ready so everyone can afford to change their travel yet, but showcasing what we already have in place is what’s important.”
He also noted that like the Santa Barbara program it’s modeled after, the Car Free program shows visitors that if they commit to a car free experience and are wiling to adjust their time schedules, everything the region offers becomes available.
To take part in the program, potential visitors log on to www.slocarfree.com and pledge not to use a private vehicle during their stay. In return they become eligible for discounts on services related to all aspects of their stay, from hotel rooms to restaurants and outdoor activities. Of course, help finding alternative transportation is critical.
Deals include free bike rentals with a stay at Hostel Obispo and sign up fees reduced to $25 for use of local company FunRide’s fleet of green vehicles. Both provide the flexibility of autonomous transit during a stay but reduced rates are also available for bus services and airport shuttles.
For those more interested in ease of a package deal, tours in wine country are available from the charter services provided by the airport based Wine Country Charters, to the wine education tours of Breakaway Tours, which ranges from Paso Robles to Santa Barbara.
For the restless souls, Central Coast Outdoors provides hiking and kayaking excursions in Morro Bay and Big Sur ranging from $50 to $100, meeting guests at their hotel and shuttling to the tour site. Owner John Flaherty said he had looked forward to raising awareness of the eco-friendly possibilities.
“I remember saying to the tourism board awhile ago, ‘God, wouldn’t it be great to have a green tourism event to show everything around here?’ and they recently told me, ‘Guess what?’” Flaherty’s enthusiasm was mirrored by other participants who said they are looking forward to the program’s expected success. “We already encourage people to come to SLO and we’d love to have them do it car free,” Carrie Head, communications manager of the San Luis Obispo County Visitors and Conference Bureau, said. “We have over 500 members and all of the hotels are excited about it. They see it as a great vehicle for the industry, if you’ll pardon the pun.”