Living Car Free - Los Angeles--First Carfree Friday

According to BikeCommuters.com (http://www.bikecommuters.com/2009/01/30/car-free-fridays/), they just had the first Carfree Friday in Los Angeles:




LAST FRIDAY OF EVERY MONTH IS “CAR-FREE FRIDAY”



First Bike Ride Jan. 30!


Advocates strive to create a more bike-able, cleaner and healthier Los Angeles County

Los Angeles, Calif. — Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition (LACBC) has launched a new campaign called “Car-Free Fridays” to encourage both new and experienced riders to commit to using the bicycle as a means to commute to work and to make their shorter trips by bike at least one Friday of the month.

The campaign is aimed to get more people on bikes and to highlight the global and personal benefits of riding a bicycle. To celebrate the first “Car-Free Friday,” on January 30, LACBC will host a ride, meeting at 8 a.m. at Hollywood/Western Metro Red Line Station and will head downtown, to L.A. City Hall.

Sustainable choices and transportation alternatives are a popular means of reducing our carbon footprint, reducing air pollution, staying healthy and saving money. Choosing to commute by bicycle, even on occasion, can have immediate positive results on our health and on the environment.

“Riding your bike on Car-Free Fridays is a great way to reduce your impact on the environment and get a work out at the same time,” said Council President Eric Garcetti.

“If you already ride or walk your commute, pair up with a co-worker or classmate and show them the joys of car-freedom this Friday, and every last Friday of the month. If your New Year’s resolution included reducing your carbon footprint with a human-powered commute, this is the perfect day to give it a try.” said Jen Klausner, Executive Director, LACBC.

“I started using my bike to go to the grocery store, and I noticed that I came home happier and I even saved a few bucks on gas,” says Susan Beeker, a new rider who now commutes at least three times per week on her bicycle.

“Car-Free Fridays is great idea that will encourage folks to start and continue bicycling”, comments Ron Milam, of BikeSage.
Maintaining a healthy lifestyle has become a priority for many Angelenos, but it is not always easy to dedicate extra time and money to get to the gym every week.

“According to the British Heart Association, cycling at least three hours a week cuts your risk of heart disease in half compared to those who do not cycle or perform other exercise,” said Marisa K. Bell, MD Childrens Hospital Los Angeles. “Other studies have shown that exercise such as cycling can reduce levels of depression and stress and improve mood and self-esteem.”

Riding a bicycle for just 10 miles a week can save at least $520 a year, shed calories, work to reduce California’s emissions from cars and light trucks which are the largest single source of greenhouse gas emissions in California. It helps reduce traffic congestion which costs the regional economy $9.3 billion annually.

Founded in 1998, Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition (LACBC) works to build a better, more bike-able Los Angeles County. LACBC is the only nonprofit, membership-supported organization working exclusively for the millions of bicyclists in Los Angeles County. Through advocacy, education and outreach, Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition brings together the diverse bicycling community in a united mission to make the entire L.A. region a safe and enjoyable place to ride.

For more information please go to www.la-bike.org (http://www.la-bike.org) or contact aurisha@la-bike.org

That's pretty cool, I hope it takes off.

"Riding a bicycle for just 10 miles a week can save at least $520 a year, shed calories, work to reduce California’s emissions from cars and light trucks which are the largest single source of greenhouse gas emissions in California. It helps reduce traffic congestion which costs the regional economy $9.3 billion annually."

A dollar a mile seems a bit inflated to me, but at least they're using motivators sure to grab people's attention. =D

I live in the Greater Los Angeles area. I have noticed a huge jump in bike riders during the past 2 years or so (perhaps reflecting the current economic situation?). Whatever the case may be, there are 2 camps of cyclists here-poor and the middle class/upper class. The poor ride because they are poor and have no other options besides walking and maybe taking the bus/light rail. The better-off ride for more socially accepted or "in" reasons. So no other incentive to have/actually a bike is required. And the vast majority here ride in groups no larger than a couple of people or even show up to organized formal rides.

Don't look for something that does not and could not ever exist here. Because the deep down dirty little secret people carry around here is they all still want to have their own cars and drive!

Will Governor Boobengrabber be leaving his jet (http://www.ecorazzi.com/2008/03/10/schwarzenegger%E2%80%99s-daily-jet-commute-receiving-flak/) in the hangar on Fridays?

From the first sentence I thought every Friday, but no, only 1/4 of the Fridays.

Don't look for something that does not and could not ever exist here. Because the deep down dirty little secret people carry around here is they all still want to have their own cars and drive!

I don't. And I think many citizens of the world -- when they weighed the consequences of their actions -- would agree with me.

"Riding a bicycle for just 10 miles a week can save at least $520 a year,..." Where in the world did this person get this number?

I lived in Los Angeles for a year. There was no way I could be car-free there. I lived near the top of one of the hills surrounding Griffith Park. I worked at Universal City. I could get there going downhill almost all the way. Coming home would be a ten mile uphill crawl. It would take a super athlete to do that every day after a ten hour workday.

I got the job many months after finding the room to rent (at $365/month in 1997). My stay was temporary so it wasn't worth the effort or money to relocate. I needed the room because it was close to school.

car free sure you just need a small foot print.

work, shelter, food, college
have a skid no worries weather is good all year around.

I like the idea of a weekly "day" activity. This sure beats a "bike-to-work" week which happens only annually. Typically, there's a lot of fanfare leading up to the week, lots of cyclists on the road and then, everybody heads back to the car.

With a weekly event, cyclists get into the habit of being carfree and I figure that habit drives about 90% of our transportation choices.