<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"> <head> <meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> <meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 11 (filtered medium)"> <style>  </style>  </head> <body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple> <div class=Section1> Original source: <a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051202/ap_on_bi_ge/japan_mazda">http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051202/ap_on_bi_ge/japan_mazda</a><o:p></o:p> TOKYO - Japanese automaker Mazda Motor Corp. is recommending its employees walk to the office, rather than commute by car, as part of an effort to improve their health and protect the environment, a company spokesman said Friday.<o:p></o:p> Those meeting a set of requirements by going to the office on foot are eligible to receive 1,500 yen ($12) a month, Mazda spokesman Ken Haruki said.<o:p></o:p> Aimed at improving employees' health and to promote environment protection, Mazda introduced its "Eco-walk commutation allowance" on Thursday, Hakuki said.<o:p></o:p> Mazda, Japan's fourth-largest automaker based in Hiroshima, is the first Japanese car company to encourage its employees to walk and offer a monetary incentive, he said.<o:p></o:p> All of the company's 20,000 workers at domestic plants are eligible. The company has no plans to extend the program to those working outside Japan, Hakuki said.<o:p></o:p> Haruki said the allowance will be given to any Mazda employees who live more than two kilometers (1.24 miles) from the office and walk more than four kilometers (2.48 miles) in round trips at least 15 days a month.<o:p></o:p> Employees can get off a train or bus on their way to the office and take a walk over the distance to meet the requirements, Haruki said.<o:p></o:p> Yamaha Motor Co., a major Japanese motorcycle maker, introduced a similar eco-walk commutation system for its employees a year ago.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Carlos F. Pardo Coordinador de Proyecto GTZ - Proyecto de Transporte Sostenible (SUTP, SUTP-LAC) Cr. 14 # 94A-24 of. 409 Bogotá D.C., Colombia Tel:  +57 (1) 635 9048<o:p></o:p> Fax: +57 (1) 635 9015 / 236 2309 Mobile: +57 (3) 15 296 0662 e-mail: <a href="mailto:carlos.pardo@sutp.org" title="mailto:carlos.pardo@sutp.org">carlos.pardo@sutp.org</a> Página: <a href="http://www.sutp.org/" title="http://www.sutp.org/">www.sutp.org</a><o:p></o:p> - Visite nuestra nueva sección de Latinoamérica y el Caribe en <a href="http://www.sutp.org/esp/espindex.htm">http://www.sutp.org/esp/espindex.htm</a> <o:p></o:p> - Únase al grupo de discusión de Transporte Sostenible en Latinoamérica en <a href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/sustranlac/join">http://groups.yahoo.com/group/sustranlac/join</a> <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <o:p> </o:p> </div> </body> </html>