Business & Tech
Green Streets Program Offers Retail Discounts for Walking/Biking to Work
The Green Streets Initiative is seeking local Newton business to join the Retail Partnership Program, which offers incentives to customers who participate in walk/ride day.
Whether its staying in shape or helping the environment, there are a number of benefits to walking or riding your bike to work.
But did you know it could also get you discounts at local stores and restaurants?
Through the Green Streets Initiative's Retail Partnership Program, local businesses can offer incentives to those who participate in the Green Streets Walk/Ride Days. Businesses in Boston, Lynn, Somerville, Medford and Cambridge have already joined, and Green Streets is looking for a few Newton businesses to come on board.
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According Newton resident Andreae Downs, who works as a local coordinator for the Green Streets Initiative, Newton Centre's has joined as the city's first Green Streets retail partner.
Here's how it works: Those who participate in a walk/ride day (the last Friday of the month) check-in on the Green Streets website and receive a printable voucher showing that they participated in the walk/ride day. Participants then take the voucher to a retail partner to receive a discount or prize.
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A full list of retail participants is available online.
Walk/ride days encourage residents to have "car free" or "car light" commutes -- meaning that they walk, ride a bike, take public transportation, or carpool to work or school.
Although there is only one Newton business on board so far, Downs told Newton Patch in an email that there is a lot of local interest in the program. In addition, Downs said the Newton-Needham Chamber of Commerce has signed on for the Green Streets Walk/Ride Day Corporate Challenge.
Mayor Setti Warren has also sent a letter to local businesses encouraging them to join the Green Streets Retail Partnership.
"As Newton launches its Green Streets Initiative, I invite you to promote community health along with the health of our retail centers by becoming a GSI retail partner," Warren said in his letter. "Your discount or promotion will encourage residents and local employees to walk or ride, and will also encourage them to patronize your establishment."
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