3,000 DC AREA RESIDENTS PLEDGE A CAR FREE DAY

CSG Calls Attention to Celebration Promoting Walking, Biking and Public Transportation

What: Car Free Day and Street Festival
Where: 7th & F Sts NW, Washington, DC in the heart of revitalized Gallery Place
When: Monday, September 22, 11am-3pm
Who: Public celebration sponsored by area transportation agencies.

The recent surge in gas prices exposed the high cost of driving and sparked a sea change in thinking about how we get around and even where we live. Now, over 3000 area residents have signed a pledge to test car free living for a day, as part of the Washington DC region’s participation in “Car Free Day.”

Statement of Cheryl Cort, Policy Director
“The Coalition for Smarter Growth commends DC, Virginia and Maryland transportation officials for supporting this promotion of walking, biking and transit. Never has it been so important to make fundamental shifts in state transportation funding priorities toward transit, pedestrian and bicycle facilities and to design communities to have a mix of uses, walking and bicycling friendly neighborhoods, and easy access to transit.” For over a decade, CSG has promoted and helped to implement smart growth throughout the region. High gas prices and concern about climate change have brought renewed attention to smart growth solutions including the savings and convenience of walkable and transit accessible neighborhoods.

In DC, the Car Free Day Street Celebration will feature live music, yoga classes, free t-shirts and giveaways. Valet bike parking will be available as well as FREE bike tune-ups. You can also test ride and sign up for SmartBikes DC, the nation’s first European-style bike-sharing program. Circulator buses will run free for the whole day.

Sponsors
Metro, VRE, Montgomery County Commuter Services, VPSI Inc, Commuter Connections, MWCOG, Comcast, WABA, MARC, DDOT, VDOT, MDOT, USGSA, USDOT.