But you can bike to the grocery store, your friend's house, or to drop your kids off at school! Biking is not only  great exercise, it is a great way to reduce your environmental impact.

Driving our cars accounts for almost half of all greenhouse gas emissions in King County. By driving less, we can curb these emissions. Luckily for Redmond residents, we have a great network of bike trails, pathways, and shared roadways that make it easy to pick up cycling.

For more information on Bike-to-Work Month, visit the Cascade Bike Club Commute Challenge. Redmond's Trip Resource & Incentive Program (R-TRIP) also has great information including bike maps and safety tips. People who live or work in Redmond can use R-TRIP to get rewards for reducing their car trips.  Replacing 50 car commutes with bike, walking, carpooling, or transit makes you eligible for a $50 reward, and other monthly drawings.

Finally, May 17th is Bike-to-Work Day and R-TRIP will be throwing a party for ALL Redmond Bikers. Join the Bike Bash at City Hall from 4-7 pm.  Free food & drinks, live music, and more for our bike community!  More information here: http://www.gortripblog.com/2013/04/bikebash/

Soon you'll be making that list, checking it twice.  You're gonna find out shopping local is nice!  Sorry, I had that little ditty stuck in my head all morning.  Think Redmond has a great list of reasons you should shop local this holiday season-and all year round!

When you shop in Redmond you will not only support the local economy, but our environment. In Washington, transportation is responsible for nearly HALF of the  greenhouse gas emissions we create. The number of miles we drive has a direct impact on emissions that contribute to climate change.  Shopping locally keeps you out of that horrific mall traffic, saves you from needing to fill up the tank, and keeps emissions from being created.  

One tip for drivers is to park and walk between all the stores on your trip.  In downtown Redmond, this easy to do.  Our downtown has at walkscore of 95, a "walkers paradise"! Walking between the stores in downtown or Overlake will help keep your miles low and give you a chance to soak in all of the holiday decorations. 

Redmond has such a great collection of locally owned businesses for you to choose from.  Head over to Think Redmond or the directory on Impact Redmond to get ideas for you holiday shopping.  And if you're going to join the throngs of shoppers after Thanksgiving, consider supporting Shop Small Business Saturday (which Redmond is a part of).

September 17-23, 2012 is Pollution Prevention Week

The best way to protect the Earth and its people is to stop creating pollution in the first place.  That realization became America's official policy in 1990 with the Federal Pollution Prevention Act's declaration that, "Pollution should be prevented or reduced at its source, whenever possible."

Use these tips and prevent pollution today!

How can I save water and reduce polluted runoff from my yard?

• Use a broom instead of a hose to clean off your driveway or sidewalk.
• Cut your grass at least three inches high to shade the roots making it more drought tolerant.
• Try to water only in the evening or very early morning to minimize evaporation.
• Use porous pavement instead of asphalt for driveways and walkways.
• Collect stormwater in rain gardens and rain barrels.
• Use native plantings instead of lawn grasses, which will help filter and retain water locally due to deeper root systems thereby reducing runoff.

How can I save money while helping the environment?

• Think about giving your car a day off.  By leaving your car at home two days a week, you can reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 1,590 pounds per year.
• Don't top off the gas tank.  This allows harmful chemicals to escape into the air.
• Replacing a clogged air filter can improve your car's gas mileage by as much as ten percent.
• Drive the speed limit; avoid high speeds.  You can improve your gas mileage about 15 percent by driving at 55 mph rather than 65 mph.
• Using the manufacturer's recommended grade of motor oil can improve your gas mileage.  Buy motor oil that says "Energy Conserving" on the API performance symbol to be sure it contains friction-reducing additives.
• Keep your car tuned up and the tires properly inflated to save on fuel costs.  Keeping tires properly inflated and wheels algined reduces tire drag on the road.
• If you change your own motor oil, recylce it at a "quick lube" shop, gas station, or auto store that accepts used motor oil for recycling.

For more information on Pollution Prevention Week, check out http://www.epa.gov/p2week/.

We all know that Redmond is a great place to live and work, and now the rest of the country will hear about it!  Money Magazine  listed Redmond as the 5th best place to live in the nation.

Our great neighborhoods, natural areas, strong economy from businesses like Microsoft, local restaurants & shops, great schools, and well designed downtown helped Redmond make the list this year. The staff at Money Magazine looked for places between 50,000 and 300,000 residents that had a combination of factors such as economic strength, quality health care, low crime, great schools and things to do. This selection criteria brought Redmond out on top of the competition.

This recognition comes on the heels of some other great accolades.  We’ve been recognized as one of the best suburbs for biking, as having the best trail in the west, and as the “happiest places for young professionals”. Definitely something we are all proud of here in the city.  

So what do you love about Redmond?  Share your thoughts in the comments below!