This St. Patty’s Day, Southwest Airlines had the opportunity to celebrate the greenest day of the year with a truly Green cause!The Tour de Houston urban bike ride, now in its eighth year, took place on St. Patrick’s Day this year. This signature event is a quality civic experience that promotes a healthy lifestyle and biking as an alternative mode of transportation. Semi-professional riders as well as families and leisure bike riders get to enjoy a premier recreational biking event while replenishing Houston’s urban forest.
Funds raised from this year’s ride will benefit Houston’s reforestation efforts. Since 2005, more than 100,000 trees have been planted in Houston parks and funds raised from the ride benefit the RE-Plant Houston program managed by the Houston Parks and Recreation Department.
“This annual Houston tradition has become a staple in our city,” said Mayor Annise Parker. “I’ve been riding in the Tour de Houston since it began in 2005 and I can’t tell you how excited and motivated I am this year. Since 2005, we have successfully produced this annual, unique and fun ride for Houstonians. We couldn’t have done so without our Sponsors who work diligently to provide a fun and safe route for our cyclists and to the Mayor’s Office of Special Events for producing this ride.”
“This annual Houston tradition has become a staple in our city,” said Mayor Annise Parker. “I’ve been riding in the Tour de Houston since it began in 2005 and I can’t tell you how excited and motivated I am this year. Since 2005, we have successfully produced this annual, unique and fun ride for Houstonians. We couldn’t have done so without our Sponsors who work diligently to provide a fun and safe route for our cyclists and to the Mayor’s Office of Special Events for producing this ride.”
Volunteers at the Southwest Airlines rest stop handed out Green Southwest buttons as well as flower seed cards that can be planted in the ground. Not only will the Tour de Houston participants contribute to the Houston reforestation efforts, riders can plant a few flowers in their yard courtesy of Southwest Airlines. It doesn’t get much greener than that!
To learn more about our sustainability, please visit the 2011 Southwest Airlines One Report™.