Washington, D.C. — Nearly 12,000 people in the metropolitan Washington region pledged to “Uncar for a Day” or go Car-Lite on Car Free Day, September 22, according to Commuter Connections, a regional transportation network coordinated by the National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board at the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments. Pledges for this year’s event increased by 70 percent over 2010.
“We would like to thank all of those who participated and made this event the most successful one to date,” said Nicholas Ramfos, Director of Commuter Connections. “We are so pleased that residents of this region shared a commitment to cleaner air and offered support to help reduce the region’s carbon footprint and decrease traffic congestion. We are also grateful to our sponsors whose generous donations helped to spark additional excitement for this event.”
This year, the event featured The Capital Car Free Campus Competition, a friendly-inter campus challenge among six major universities in the Washington region which encouraged faculty and staff to bike, walk and use public transit. American University took the crown this year.
Coupons for a free lunch compliments of Flippin’ Pizza, were delivered to all those who pledged to go Car Free before midnight on September 19, and many great prizes will be awarded including: an Apple® iPad™, from Base Technologies; a bicycle courtesy of BicycleSPACE; 2012 Season Game tickets courtesy of Washington Nationals; Capital Bikeshare annual memberships, courtesy of goDCgo; SmarTrip Cards, courtesy WMATA; “See the City” Tours for Two, courtesy Capital Segway; Commuter Rail Tickets, courtesy Virginia Railway Express and MARC/Maryland Transit Administration; and free seven-day passes courtesy of Sport & Health.
Car Free Day is celebrated worldwide every September 22 to encourage traveling without a car and opting instead for transit, bicycling, walking, ridesharing and teleworking. Washington, D.C. celebrated Car Free Day for the first time in 2007 with about 1,000 District residents committing to car free travel for the day. In 2008, the event was expanded to the entire Washington metropolitan region.
Commuter Connections commends the efforts of this year’s participants and encourages them to join the thousands of commuters currently using Commuter Connections free programs. Car Free Day is just one of the innovative ways Commuter Connections is promoting alternatives to drive alone commuting.