Wearing O' the Green on Friday

The chatter is swelling this week about St. Patrick's Day. On a sunny day with temperatures nearing 70 around Boston it is a wonderful day to think about the parade in South Boston on Saturday. Unfortunately the weather isn't looking so hot for the end of this week – so we've got to plan on how we're going to wear our green (if it's going to be a rain slicker or winter parka - the t-shirt won't likely cut it). Wearing green on St. Patrick's Day is often more wide spread in the office than wearing your red and green on the day of the office Christmas (or politically correct, Holiday) party. For the last year the Green Streets Initiative has been giving commuters in Cambridge a reason to wear their green at least once a month – the environment.

The Cambridge Green Streets Initiative is a grassroots group of people who live, work, or send kids to school in Cambridge. We are interested in reducing the use and impact of automobiles in Cambridge and encouraging the use of alternative transportation. We have started a movement to make the last Friday of every month a Walk/Ride Day. Walk, cycle, scooter, bus, train, stilt, pogo-stick – or whatever! – to school or work, but leave your car behind.

The first year anniversary of the Walk/Ride Day is scheduled for March 30, 2007, but there's no reason not to give it the St. Paddy's Day preview this week. Park the car and walk, bike, or take the T to work. And wear your green. When someone asks you if you're sporting the green to honor your Irish heritage you can get all high and mighty and tell them that no, in fact, it's green to support the environment and today's carbon emissions weren't your fault.

Photo was the first that popped up in our search for "Green Transporation" on Flickr and comes courtesy of user Kyler Storm