World Car-Free Day is Sept. 22

 World Car-Free Day is September 22 every year. It's a day when everyone in the whole world (yes, the whole wide world) is encouraged to give up their car and try an alternative such as transit, walking or biking. The idea being that if you can give up your car for a day, you can give it up for two days or three days until you are living a car-free lifestyle. And if more people go car free, the world will be less polluted, the streets will be less crowded and we won't be as dependent on foreign oil. The idea is also to show governments that people are willing to give up their cars and that resources should be put towards better bike lanes, sidewalks and other projects that make it easier to go car free.

In Arlington, we have been encouraging people to give up their cars, even if it's just a few days or trips a week, with Arlington's Car-Free Diet. Many people have shared their stories with us about how they are living a car-free life and it is easier than they thought. (See their stories here on the Car-Free Diet blog.) 

There are many car free events planned for the DC metro area to celebrate World Car-Free Day, here are two that will be held in Arlington:

Confident City Cycling Class
Saturday, Sept. 19
1:00 pm - 4:00 pm

Arlington's Car-Free Diet Celebration                                
Tuesday, Sept. 22
4:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Mister Days
3100 Clarendon Blvd.

This event is the kick-off for the Car-Free Diet Seven-Day Diet Plan. There will be free food, door prizes, free trip planning and more info about the Seven-Day Diet Plan. Mister Days is located near the Clarendon Metro Station as well as convenient to ART 41 & 77 and Metrobus 24P & 38B.

In addition, many Arlington Car-Free Diet Partners are offering discounts on Sept. 22 and during Try Transit Week, Sept. 21 - 25.

Plan to join us on September 22 and participate in World Car-Free Day. You along with the whole wide world will be celebrating going car free.

Bobbi Greenberg is the Marketing Director for Arlington County Commuter Services within the Department of Environmental Services.