September 22.....

[gwd]

I see that September 22 is supposed to be world car free day. I don't think DC
participates. Too bad. I'd like to see the city car free for a day.

[squegeeboo]

and don't forget about September 19th. (http://www.talklikeapirate.com/)

[Artkansas]

Heres a link.

http://www.worldcarfree.net/wcfd/

[gcl8a]

and don't forget about September 19th. (http://www.talklikeapirate.com/)

Argh! Argh! You beat me to it!

[oilfreeandhappy]

and don't forget about September 19th. (http://www.talklikeapirate.com/)

Arghh! If I had a gold dubloon, I'd participate!

[oilfreeandhappy]

Heres a link.

http://www.worldcarfree.net/wcfd/

My question, here in the US, isn't who is participating. It's "Is anybody, anywhere participating?".

[wheel]

My question, here in the US, isn't who is participating. It's "Is anybody, anywhere participating?".

some will and not even know it.

[Newspaperguy]

Sept. 22 will be just another average day for me. I doubt I'll start the car that day, or the day before or the day after.

[oneredstar]

If there is not an event going on in your city you should start one. I have organized a Midnight Ride and will probably have some day time action as well, just not sure yet. I am thinking I may reclaim a parking spot. Dig a hole and plant a tree in it!

[same time]

I see that September 22 is supposed to be world car free day. I don't think DC
participates. Too bad. I'd like to see the city car free for a day.

Some participation here:

http://www.carfreedc.info/

But you're right, it's likely to be just another day in DC. Got to start somewhere, I suppose.

[jeff-o]

I find it ironic that on that very day, I am considering driving 200+ km to attend a bike-centric rally... Hmmm...

[EnigManiac]

My question, here in the US, isn't who is participating. It's "Is anybody, anywhere participating?".
We do here in Toronto. In fact, I was featured in one of the local papers last year. :)

[evblazer]

I find it ironic that on that very day, I am considering driving 200+ km to attend a bike-centric rally... Hmmm...

oh go for it! When I was a member of the Electric Auto Association, and attended a meeting once or twice a year, people used to drive old clunky gas sucking vans/trucks hours and hours every month to go to an electric vehicle meeting and gripe about how everyone was a terrorist because they couldn't give up their gasoline vehicles and wouldnt' just drive electric. :rolleyes:

I think I might send the link to one of the local papers. We have at least 4 of them maybe one of them will carry it to stand out.

[Thor29]

Y'know what would be really cool? If on car free day lots of cities celebrated by throwing massive citywide block parties where only emergency vehicles were allowed on the roads. Now that would be fun. It'll never happen in America, but it's nice to dream.

[Artkansas]

China is celebrating it. http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070917/sc_afp/chinaautotrafficenvironment

[gwd]

China is celebrating it. http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070917/sc_afp/chinaautotrafficenvironment

Thanks to LCF I've learned that DC is actually doing a few things, like almost a
week of CarFree activities, here are some:

"On September 18th, join the Mayor and City Council and take the CarFree Challenge. Vow to use any mode other than driving alone in a car. Enjoy the District’s landscape and architecture and enjoy a walk with your neighbors and coworkers. Be a part of DC’s first Car Free Day. Use this time to time to read the paper, think about all of the money you could save not owning a car, get some exercise, and feel the wind in your hair on your way to work. Take a look around at the city where you live and work, instead of the annoying bumper stickers on that car in front of you.

Discounts at The Reef

On Tuesday, September 18th one of DC’s most cyclist friendly bar and restaurants, The Reef, will be offering a 20% discount to those that show up with a bike helmet. The Reef is located at 2446 18th Street NW in Adams Morgan. Ample bike parking is available outside.

Free Walking Tours!

Cultural Tourism DC, City By Foot Tour Company, and Washington Walks welcome everyone to enjoy the landscape and architecture of the City through special Car Free Day walking tours. Tours are free and open to the public. Happy Car Free Day!

More than Monuments
6:00 pm – 7:15 pm
Meet at the base of the Washington Monument on the east side (facing the Capitol and 15th Street)
End at the steps of the Lincoln Memorial
Through little-known anecdotes and quirky facts, this tour brings to life the events and people who inspired the monuments. Part performers and part professors, the licensed guides are recent college graduates who are passionate about American history. Their sometimes irreverent and always interesting romp holds the attention of even the squirmiest toddler. The perfect solution for anyone who slept through eighth grade history class! Led by professional guide Ben Hindman and presented by City By Foot Tour Company.

Walk Logan Circle
6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Meet outside the McPherson Square Metro station (14th Street exit).
Few Washington neighborhoods have witnessed such a breathtaking renaissance as Logan Circle, the city’s only unaltered Victorian residential district. It evolved from rural obscurity to an enclave of architectural splendor, home first to affluent whites and later to African American residents. A growing number of restaurants and shops make it one of Washington’s most fashionable addresses. Led by professional tour guide Carolyn Crouch and presented by Washington Walks.

More than Monuments
8:00 pm – 9:15 pm
Meet at the base of the Washington Monument on the east side (facing the Capitol and 15th Street)
End at the steps of the Lincoln Memorial
Through little-known anecdotes and quirky facts, this tour brings to life the events and people who inspired the monuments. Part performers and part professors, the licensed guides are recent college graduates who are passionate about American history. Their sometimes irreverent and always interesting romp holds the attention of even the squirmiest toddler. The perfect solution for anyone who slept through eighth grade history class! Led by professional guide Ben Hindman and presented by City By Foot Tour Company.

Skate Clinic & City Skate

Washington Area Roadskaters, in support of the DC Car Free Day initiative, will offer a one-hour training session in basic inline skating technique from 6:00-7:00pm on Tuesday, September 18. The session will take place in front of the White House on the north (Pennsylvania Ave) side. It will be taught by certified instructors from the DC chapter of the National Skate Patrol, which offers a free skate clinic at Rock Creek Park every Saturday at noon April through October (details at Skate DC. The training session will be followed by a scenic cityskate through downtown Washington, a fun way to end the day for all levels of skaters.

Take Your iPod for a Walk through History!
Download a free MP3 audio tour to your iPod or MP3 player and surround yourself with sound as you walk the Civil War to Civil Rights: Downtown Heritage Trail through historic Penn Quarter. Walk in the footsteps of Abraham Lincoln, Frederick Douglass, Martin Luther King Jr., Walt Whitman, and other great Americans whose lives were intertwined with the history of the nation and its capital city. The trail focuses on Washington’s experiences during the Civil War as well as the continuing challenge to realize the American dream of equal rights for all its citizens. Relive dramatic events, including:

* The night President Lincoln was shot at Ford’s Theater
* The hustle and bustle of the old Center Market
* A riot following the attempted escape of 77 enslaved people
* Clara Barton’s search for thousands of missing Union soldiers
* Thurgood Marshall’s fight to desegregate American Institutions
"

[rhm]

I see that September 22 is supposed to be world car free day. I don't think DC
participates. Too bad. I'd like to see the city car free for a day.

I grew up in DC, but haven't lived there in over 20 years. But on Tuesday I had to go to a meeting at NEH, so I took my folding bike down on Amtrak and zipped over to the Old Post Office from Union Station. What a blast! I saw more bike commuters in ten minutes there than I've seen in ten years living in New Jersey! I actually saw bike lanes --yes, real bike lanes, I'm not making this up-- painted on busy down town streets! This is progress, man. At least as good as the NYC bike lanes, which I use every day. So my point is... DC may not seem a bicycle paradise to you, but it has made a lot of progress, and it's way better than some places.

[discosaurus]

Saturday. That's kind of cool, but isn't it a little too convenient to do it on a non-business day? Maybe I'm just thinking too much "crank it to 11!"

Too bad I'll be driving 100 miles to visit my family that day. At least I'm bringing my bike!

[gwd]

I grew up in DC, but haven't lived there in over 20 years. But on Tuesday I had to go to a meeting at NEH, so I took my folding bike down on Amtrak and zipped over to the Old Post Office from Union Station. What a blast! I saw more bike commuters in ten minutes there than I've seen in ten years living in New Jersey! I actually saw bike lanes --yes, real bike lanes, I'm not making this up-- painted on busy down town streets! This is progress, man. At least as good as the NYC bike lanes, which I use every day. So my point is... DC may not seem a bicycle paradise to you, but it has made a lot of progress, and it's way better than some places.
Most of the progress has occurred in the last 10 years.

[oilfreeandhappy]

I'll be riding in the Tour de Fat tomorrow (the 22nd). Although I don't think it was planned, what a great event for World Car-Free Day. I've added a few pics from last year's ride, which attracted over 2000 cyclists. Not bad for a town with a population of 100,000. I have a date later, to go out with my wife for dinner - by bicycle of course.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/117/265757473_0e9c060b38_o.gif
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/116/265757469_9a9e0bc631_o.gif
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/100/265757467_a1b9e8cb62_o.gif

[Nycycle]

Man it seems hopeless, I will almost guarantee I will not drive a vehicle, But I may have to ride in one with my wife, it's our anniversary and she is unable to ride a bike.

[MyBikeGotStolen]

bad thing is, I actually have to drive to a big bike sale put on by a church today :(

[Nycycle]

Not looking good in China, and I can't find one person in Utah even cares.



http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7007893.stm

[Artkansas]

One person in Arkansas cares. I took a 30+ mile ride today. I still have to pedal to the library and the grocery store.

[gwd]

One person in Arkansas cares. I took a 30+ mile ride today. I still have to pedal to the library and the grocery store.

I'm going bike free today too, I walked to the library and grocery store for a change of pace.

[oneredstar]

Alright, now that the 22nd has come and gone, how did everyone do? My Midnight Ride went great. 4 new people showed up and we went on a 37 km ride that involded city streets, MUP's, gravel roads, and even a little single track!

The best part was a 10 km stretch of gravel road that took us out of the city to a gun range. I never knew such a thing existed in my city.

[MyBikeGotStolen]

Unfortionatly I think I ended up doing more driving yesterday then I did all month. First, I ended up driving to a church garage sale the add said vintage raodbikes in the add so I thought there was a good chance I might get something. I didnt of course :(

The my g/f came home from beight out of town for a week so I ended up having to go eat dinner somewere with her. She is scared to leave the apartment parking lot on a bike :(