The mayor of Bridgeport tried to lead by example on the 39th annual Earth Day.

Mayor Bill Finch urged people to help the environment by leaving their cars behind Wednesday. Finch himself walked or used the bus to most of his appointments. The mayor admits, however, that when he couldn't catch a bus in time for a speaking engagement, he hopped into one of the city's natural gas cars.

The mayor, wearing a green tie, also helped plant a tree with students at the Geraldine Johnson School.

Finch says thinking environmentally can also help economically. He says Earth Day is a great day to realize that cutting fuel bills at home can also lead to a decrease of carbon in the atmosphere.

The CEO of Greater Bridgeport Transit expressed gratitude to people like Mayor Finch who took the bus Wednesday by handing out tree saplings to 500 riders.