TRANSPORT operator SBS Transit is doing its bit to commemorate International Car-Free Day, which takes place next Tuesday.

At noon today, the company will hand out bus ride vouchers to motorists at the Ang Mo Kio Hub and HDB Hub (Toa Payoh) carparks.

It has set aside 5,000 vouchers, each valid for one bus ride. It is the first such exercise by the ComfortDelGro-owned company.

SBS executive director Gan Juay Kiat said: "We are hoping to reach out to car owners, to get them to leave their cars at home for a day and take buses. It's a small step that will go some way in our bid to save the environment."

Singapore Environment Council executive director Howard Shaw added that drivers "do not need to give up their cars. For example, they can drive to their offices in town and then take the bus or train to get to meetings around the area. Reductions in trips per week can in turn reduce carbon emissions".

Rival transport operator SMRT said its green campaign has been running for about five months now. In the campaign, which ends on Sept 30, anyone who takes a ride with SMRT qualifies for a monthly draw and stands to win three months' worth of free rides.

So far, five people have collected prizes, an SMRT spokesman said. At the end of the programme, a grand draw will be held to pick a winner who will get one year's worth of free rides.

This is the second year SMRT has held such a competition.

This article was first published in The Straits Times.

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