Car Free Day

Posted by Sandra Williams Sep 22, 2007

EnviroMom gave me the heads up on the fact that September 22nd is Car Free Day. She was late but I'm even later. Anyway, the bus isn't all that bad and you can get some exercise walking to the bus stop. Of course if your destination is within walking distance, even better.

I walk anywhere I can if it takes less than half an hour to do so. Even in the winter I stick my balaclava on and hike. My husband prefers biking which is another good option when the weather is decent. Our buses now have bike racks on them too so you can bike to your destination and take the bus back if you want.

• EviroMom also tipped me off to an article in the Oregonian entitled "Giving up the Family Car" Penwell and his wife Rachel gave up their station wagon because they were sick of paying for repairs. That sounds familiar. We have had a ton of junk boxes that broke down too. Hopefully we'll get a hybrid vehicle someday but they cost between four and eight thousand more than regular cars. (Financial Considerations of Hybrid Cars) In the meantime I can walk past my broken down gas guzzler with pride as I jump on the bus.

"As the climate heats up, World Carfree Day is the perfect time to take the heat off the planet, and put it on city planners and politicians to give priority to cycling, walking and public transport, instead of to the automobile." For more info on Carfree day, see World Carfree Network.