April 2026 Newsletter

Celebrating Earth Day
Saving at the Gas Pump
Prepping for Bike to Wherever Day
Winter Walk Challenge Wrap-Up

The number 2026 comprised of plants and a tree growing out of the lower half of planet earth

Celebrating Earth Day

We invite and encourage you to participate in Earth Day celebrations throughout the month of April. Join your community’s efforts to protect our environment. Here are just a few of the many local events where you can take action, volunteer, learn about sustainability, and enjoy free family fun.

Pleasant Hill’s Second Annual Earth Day Celebration
Thursday, April 23 | 5PM – 7PM | City Hall
Enjoy environmental demos and activities. Bonus: Grab dinner at the Off the Grid food trucks. 511 CCTA will be there for the festivities, so stop by and say hi!
Lafayette Earth Day Festival 2026
Sunday, April 26 | 11AM – 2PM | Lafayette Plaza
Hosted by Sustainable Lafayette, enjoy family-friendly activities and discover local eco-friendly businesses and resources.
Pinole Earth Walk
Saturday, April 18 | 9AM – 11:30AM | Fernandez Park
Take a 1.5 mile walk with fellow community members as a group pledge to protect the planet. The walk begins and ends in Fernandez Park and follows a paved loop along the Pinole Creek and Bay Trail. Invite family, friends, and neighbors to join you.
Keep Antioch Beautiful
Saturday, April 18 | 9AM – 12PM | Nick Rodriguez Community Center & Antioch Skate Park
Contribute to a stronger, cleaner, and more beautiful city by volunteering to restore landscaping or clean up trash. Volunteer lunch at 11AM. Register here.

More Earth Day & Earth Month Events

Illustrations of alternatives to driving alone to work: walking, biking, taking the bus or train, working from home, carpooling, or vanpooling

Five Ways to Save at the Gas Pump

Drive Less. Bike, walk, take transit, or work from home any chance you can. Our incentives make it easier to ditch the car.
Share the Ride. Split costs and save time by carpooling to work, school, or after-school sports. See how much you can save.
Consolidate Car Trips. Have lots of stops? Make all your stops in one trip and use a circular route for the shortest driving distance. Tools like MapQuest Route Planner can help you order your stops effectively.
Prioritize Efficiency. If you have more than one car, use the one with the best fuel efficiency. Avoid idling, turn down the AC, and accelerate and brake smoothly.
Go Electric. Avoiding the gas pump isn’t the only cost savings of EV ownership. You’ll also never pay for oil changes, tune ups, or regular trips to a mechanic.

Explore Incentives for Changing Your Commute

Prepping for Bike to Wherever Day

Save the date! Bike to Wherever Day (aka Bike to Work Day) is Thursday, May 14. Prep now to get ride-ready.

E-Bike It! A new e-bike will give you a faster, sweat-free commute, and our $150-$300 cash rebate makes it more affordable.
Do a Gear Check
- Bike: Recite your ABC’s. Our guide shows you how to check your Air, Brakes, and Chain. Visit a local bike shop if you need help with a complete tune-up.
- Helmet: Replace your helmet if it’s already been in a crash, if you see any cracks, if the straps are worn or stretched, or if pads or other parts are missing.
Find a Bike Buddy. If you are new to biking, feel nervous about biking to work, or just want good company on your ride, invite a friend or coworker to join you on Bike to Wherever Day.
Plan and Test Your Ride. Take a leisurely, no-stress test ride on a free day to explore your route and locate bike parking options at your destination. If your route includes transit, learn how to load your bike on a bus and read tips for taking bikes on BART.

Learn More About Bike to Wherever Day

Collage of photos submitted by participants in this year's Winter Walk Challenge

Winter Walk Challenge Wrap-Up

Congratulations to Susan from Concord, the 2026 winner of the Winter Walk Challenge iPad Grand Prize drawing. Susan joined 2,737 other walkers who were challenged to find spring blooms, wild animal habitats, monkey bars, and other fun themes during neighborhood walks. We received nearly 3,300 fantastic photos from throughout the county. Visit the Photo Gallery to check out a few of our favorites.

If you enjoyed the Winter Walk Challenge, be sure to join us for the Summer Bike Challenge, returning in June.

CCTA logo
511 CCTA is a program of the Contra Costa Transportation Authority

Have a suggestion for our next newsletter? Email us.

Subscribe to the 511 CCTA Newsletter