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Could you go car-free for a day?

Posted by Amanda Holloway @amandab, Sep 20, 2017

Hi everybody, I just learned that this Friday, Sept. 22nd is World Car-Free Day. It's an event where people around the world are encouraged to not drive alone for 1 day and to instead ride a bus, bicycle, walk, carpool, or telework. With a little planning, do you think you could do it? Want to try it with me? I'd love to hear about your experience if you go car-free on Friday! Pictures would be fun to see too!

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Amanda Holloway | @amandab | Sep 22, 2017

Here's a dorky bus stop selfie as I embark on World Car-free Day. Things I like about taking the bus: 1) it's a nice 5 minute stroll from my house to the bus stop where I get some fresh morning air, 2) although it adds approximately 10 minutes to my commute time, I enjoy zoning out on the bus ride to work - it's nice to leave the driving to someone else, 3) the bus drops me off right in front of my building, 4) the bus pass is free from the Rochester Parking & Transportation office! Anyone else partaking in a car-free adventure today?
REPLY
Treasure Ransom | @transom | Sep 22, 2017

I was hesitant to say I could do this today because I didn't know if I'd be able to go all in. But, I decided it was okay to say what I am doing to go car free for the day.

1) I am telecommuting instead of driving my 50-mile commute
2) Instead of driving the kids to school this morning, they took the bus
3) We are carpooling to the football game this evening
4) I am holding on completing a couple of errands over lunch because I can do them Monday on my day off when I am out and about running other errands (another side benefit, I won't pick something up on the fly to eat. Instead, I will enjoy leftovers). 🙂

Thanks for sharing this day with us, @amandab. It helped me be thoughtful in how I use my vehicle and I chose not to do extraneous trips today because of it!

REPLY
1 reply
Amanda Holloway | @amandab | Sep 25, 2017
In reply to @transom "I was hesitant to say I could do this today because I didn't know if I'd..." + (show)
@transom

I was hesitant to say I could do this today because I didn't know if I'd be able to go all in. But, I decided it was okay to say what I am doing to go car free for the day.

1) I am telecommuting instead of driving my 50-mile commute
2) Instead of driving the kids to school this morning, they took the bus
3) We are carpooling to the football game this evening
4) I am holding on completing a couple of errands over lunch because I can do them Monday on my day off when I am out and about running other errands (another side benefit, I won't pick something up on the fly to eat. Instead, I will enjoy leftovers). 🙂

Thanks for sharing this day with us, @amandab. It helped me be thoughtful in how I use my vehicle and I chose not to do extraneous trips today because of it!

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@transom - thanks so much for sharing your plan and your willingness to try going car-free for a day. I can totally relate to being reluctant to try something for fear that I won't be able to do it completely or perfectly. What a good reminder to not let that stop us from trying some new or different! I'm so glad you decided to give a whirl and that it helped you be more thoughtful of how you use your vehicle.

I ended my car-free day with dinner out with my husband. Rather than jump in the car to head to one of our regular restaurants, we talked through which ones were within walking distance and chose one of those. I won't lie, it was a hot walk but the additional benefits were that we had the opportunity to say hello to some neighbors along the way and didn't have to worry about finding a parking space in the full lot.

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Matthew Moore | @mmoore | Sep 27, 2017

My wife and I often go car-free...mainly because we have the good fortune to have a <15 minute walk to work and have the Food Coop nearby. I'm not sure I've gone an entire week, could try that!

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