The city of Tallahassee announced the “Get There Green” program on Thursday. The program starts with three parts, all aimed at encouraging eco-friendly transportation use among city employees.
First, the city has purchased an electric vehicle—it looks like a golfcart—that employees can use to shuttle between City Hall and other government buildings downtown.
In front of City Hall on Thursday, City Commissioner Nancy Miller drove the two-person, door-less vehicle. “I have a convertible, so it doesn’t bother me a bit," she said. "And it’s very comfortable.”
The city paid $7,500 for the used vehicle, which recharges by plugging into a standard electrical outlet. Cynthia Barber directs the city’s Environmental Policy and Energy Resources Department. She says city employees, who travel between government buildings, were always asking the same question:
“Is there a better way for us to get back and forth other than one person taking a vehicle by themselves and people constantly going back and forth in vehicles? Is there a more sustainable way to do that?”
So, the second part of the "Get There Green" initiative is an employee bike-share program. And the city didn’t have to purchase the bikes because, Barber explains, Tallahassee Police already had some in their inventory.
“They have the opportunity sometimes, if that’s what we want to call it, to receive stolen merchandise, or misplaced merchandise, or lost, or whatever word you want to use," she said. "But anyway, they have a pool of bikes.”
And last, the city has designated three parking spaces under City Hall for people driving alternative-fuel vehicles. One of those spaces was awarded to 15-year city employee Helen Ible, who says her car has been a blessing to her family.
“We purchased a hybrid, the Mercury Mariner, in 2007, and it’s been great," she said. "It’s proved to be exactly what it says it is.”
City officials say these three programs are just the beginning of the "Get There Green" employee initiative. Other energy-saving projects will likely be added.