Today is World Carfree Day!
 

September 22 is World Carfree Day :)
Today leave the rustbucket at home and walk, bike or take public transport to work. This is better for the environment, healthier for us, and much more social, since sitting in your car doesn't give you a chance to meet new people.

Here in Warsaw anyone who shows their car's documents (meaning they left it at home) can ride the bus, tram and subway for free. Plus, there will be more bus lanes on the streets, leaving less lanes for cars. On Saturday and Sunday we had Public Transport Weekend, with antique trams and busses on the streets.

How does your city/area celebrate Carfree Day?

Piwoslaw -

Arf. If I had known this, maybe I would have taken a vacation day. It would take me 2.5 hours to get to work on public transit, so I will be in violation, :( .

CarloSW2

My Wife's work is only 8.5km from home in a straight line, but since it's on the other side of the river, the shortest route is 22km. It takes her 50 minutes to get there by bike, 20-40 minutes by car and 1-2 hours by public transport. She bikes whenever she can, but that's only when it's warm and dry, and usually not more than 2-3 times a week. On the other hand, public transport in her case means train plus two busses, which means lots of time wasted just waiting. But for most of the year, public transport is her only option.

BTW: Dad-in-law decided to celebrate today's Carfree Day by getting into his car and driving to a store that he could get to by bus in 15-20 minutes, for free.

Only found out when i got to work..... in my car - if I'd know I'd have taken the train/bike. I takes me 50mins in the car and 75ish on the bike and train. the main reason i don't do the bike thing more often is the cost of public transport here in the UK is a joke. even if you a regular user. I asked about discounts the other day:

" are you disabled?" nope
"are you retired?" nope
" are you a student?" er no
" will you be taking any children with you?" .............................no

so if you're a person of working age, commuting to a job on ya own you might aswell grab you ankles

I think you're forgetting how dirty buses can be.

But is a dirty bus with 40-60 people in it worse than 30-50 cars, some of them SUV's, even if all of them are new and 'clean'?

I meant on the inside.

Day is moot for me anyways because I don't even own a vehicle with 4 wheels.

Bumping this thread as a reminder...

You're getting sleepy. Do as I tell you. Leave your car at home tomorrow. Car = bad. No car, no.

I wish I could but it would take 40min to bike (many hills), 7min drive to the Park and ride (no bus stop by my house) then 10min to work, or 13min drive to work. School is another case to bike I would have to go over 2.5x the distance than to drive and I would have to leave work 30min earlier from work to take the bus and get there at about the same time as driving.

At least my fiancée is able to use the bus how most of her trips from school to work and back. (she lives in a different city for school)

I forgot this year... drove to work in the polo and have been driving 620bhp, 4wd, twin turbo 6 litre 200+MPH supercars all afternoon - not 'on message' here :(

Sorry, I'll set a reminder on my outlook for next year

...I'm at home, wife is driving = half-assed success.

Perfect!!! I totaled my car yesterday. :)

I didn't heard about it :(

At best I would have worked from home, as by public transportation I have to spend nearly 2 hours while I spend 40 minutes by car and up to 1h30 with heavy traffic.

At least today I beat my longest tank : 1825.3km (1134.4mi)
http://www.groar.org/EcoModder/20100922-1890.9km.JPG
I will fill-up tomorrow just after reaching 1900.0km (1180.9mi)

And as everything finishes by a strike in France, public transportation are in strike tomorrow...

Denis.

Groar,

Are they really going to let public transit workers strike? And does your car really redline at 50kph?

In France everybody goes on strike at one time or another I believe... Perfectly normal...

When I lived in Texas, at least 5 days a week were car free days. Biking back and forth to work was awesome. In most of the U.S., this is not a viable proposition due to all of the idiot drivers on the road and/or distances of the commute. I relegated the car as a means to make money offering neighbors who couldn't afford cars rides to places outside the city, or as a play thing for the highways and rural roads during early morning hours when no one was looking, or the occasional 1000+ mile trip where a bicycle really wouldn't do(otherwise, I'd have gone without a car altogether).

I wish it were that way here in the U.S. Although, if Americans actually showed some spine for a change, there would probably be mass arrests(or worse), never mind the ever present outsourcing to the 3rd world.

OK, so Carfree Day in Warsaw started off with a bicyclist getting hit in the city center, then a mega traffic jam on one of the major roads into town. In the afternoon a 3-car collision on another major road blocked everything except for the bus lane, so cars used it and busses also got jammed. In all, even though the weather was very nice (sunny and warm), the Wife and I noticed less bikers than usual on the bike trail on our way home, and there were more traffic jams and car-related accidents than average. I'll add that public transport yesterday was FREE for anyone who ditched their car (just show your car's papers instead of ticket), and since last year there are 2 or 3 new Park&Ride parking lots next to train and subway stations.

Most European cars' speedo has a red line at 50 km/h to make it easier to stay at the urban speed limit. In Groar's case I doubt he goes much faster... Just kidding, I know that's not his top speed, which makes 1900km on one tank even more awesome:thumbup:

I think they got it from us. Then took it to a new level...

In fact strikes are against government plan to raise the retirement age, so not limited to public transportation. Since a few years a minimal service should be guaranteed in public transportation, but people are always using personal transportation during strikes.

The speedometer is red lined at 50km/h which is the main city speed. Lots of cars also have redlines at 90, 110 & 130km/h (56, 68 & 80mph) which are more common speed limitation. Stock max speed at 180km/h (111mph) but it should be higher now, if tapped chloroplast could survive ;)

I'm usually doing steady speed at 70km/h (43mph) or P&G at 70-85km/h (43-53mph).

Denis.

I only heard about World Car Free Day on the morning of that day. Yet, appropriately enough I gave a talk at Ignite-NM in Santa Fe titled Your Car is Making You Fat, Angry and Broke, and what you can do about it. I couldn't have planned it better if I had tried. :)

If you haven't heard about Ignite (or don't have Ignite in your town) it is a evening of presentations on a WIDE variety of subjects. The fun part is the presentations are strictly limited to 5 minutes. Their motto is - Enlighten us, but make it quick. The night goes by quickly and even the less-interesting talks are over in 5 minutes.

The Ignite talks are posted to YouTube and I can link the video as soon as it is posted.

Here is a link to a longer article version of Your Car is Making You Fat, Angry and Broke, and what you can do about it.

Thanks,
Tim

P.S. Yes, I rode my bike to and from Ignite :)

I thought Poland got over it's socialist jag? Or actually, I expected that you might not be an ardent supporter of it? :confused:

The only place in America I know of that might support such nonsensical political correctness on an official bureaucratic level is NY City, which, under Mayor Bloomberg (the eminently wealthy and powerful political leader) is, in effect running a micro nanny state. He found a way to undo local term limits that were placed upon his mayoral position so he can be in office interminably. Might we call it the politburo? :rolleyes:

Maybe your socialist politicos should try running "Car free day" in January. Let's see how many people would be willing or able to walk or bicycle under adverse weather conditions. I suspect the politicians who suggest or impose such things ride in limousines daily, no matter what the weather may be, political or actual. However it never really affects them; it only affects the 'little people' who vote for them. :rolleyes:

It's Socialist France. Ever since their (literally) bloody Revolution it's been in their cultural history. Going on strike is their national political pastime, and has been in recent decades, big time. Nothing new here. If you like national socialism, you'll love France.

You'll find quite a lot of europe is half-assed-socialist, by which I mean not totally socialist but they'll used the bit the people like! I mean the UK was tecnically socialist (labour) for the last 13years until May, which is odd as they where Bush's Biggest fans and now the Republicans seems to love talking about all forms of socialism in a bad way!
Don't get me wrong there are some VERY obvious bad cases around the 1930s-40s-50s-60s and it pretty much crippled any form of manufacturing industry here in the UK under the unions, but there are also some scandinavian countries which make it work - and work well!

while we're on a political theme anyone love the irony that we spend 40+ years of the cold war saying the Capitalism is better than Communism, then when the system falls over we have to get propped up by the red-brigade!

Please concentrate on thread's subject : "Today is World Carfree Day!".

Thanks in advance,

Denis.

sorry (climbing down off the soap box) :)

We are concentrating on the subject, ostensibly that it is a politically Left-wing, utopian goal: that the world would be somehow be better if there were no cars.

Otherwise why would anyone or any political entity be sponsoring a carfree day? :rolleyes:

And you are either trying to profile yourself as right-wing, ultra conservative... Or are provokative and stupid...

The concept is pretty simple... Not to remove the cars, but to get people to discover the alternative... To have them actually try the bus/train routes to work before dismissing it as unpractical... And to in the end find a balance between using the car for where it's useful/practical, and leaving it at home when that's more practical...

And as such a concept it's actually a good idea, show your car's registration and use any puplic transportation for free for the day...

Also another thing you should take into account before engaging the mouth without the brain, is that most European cities are quite a lot older than the average american city... Ie we haven't torn down everything and re-built it around 4 lane roads in the city centre...

In many of these cities it actually makes more sense to use public transportation than a car, based solely on the reason that navigating it in a car takes enormous amounts of time, plus you need to spend large amounts of time to find parking... And if to many do it, the "congestion" you guys have over there becomes childs play in comparasion...

Also the positive side of that, the city is usually laid out in such a way that it's easy to navigate on foot or on a bike... Ie close to anything, then take the bus and you get to another small mini town in the town...

Take the time to think things through and look at things with the world as a reference, not just your hometown in the US as a reference and we can have lots of interesting discussions... And I haven't even discussed politics yet... :rolleyes:

:thumbup:

Happens frequently in France and Belgium.

It means public transport is not a viable nor reliable transport option as long as it remains completely union-controlled.

It's just a day where a minority imposes its utopian views upon a majority.

I work fully continuous shifts in the Antwerp harbour.
It's Belgium's main economic centre, but you can't even get there with public transport - not at the odd hours that I work, not at the more regular hours.

I could use my employer's bus system, but I can't get to one of the bus stops using public transport either.

If I could use public transportation, my employer expects me to show up even when the public transport employees go on strike


It'd be a good thing if the hypocrisy of these so-called car-free days could end right here.
The traffic jams are just as bad if not worse than on a regular day !
What's the point after all when huge numbers of people take their cars and drive to the edge of a city centre to go biking or walking in the car-free centres ????

All bus traffic going through the small city where I live, passes right before my home. <sarcasm>(The joy !)</sarcasm>
You'd be amazed how many of these busses are (near-)empty.

Many of these busses are city-lines, meaning people are using busses when they could walk or bike.

Obviously you equate anyone who is not pro Left-wing with being provocative ("provokative" sic) or "stupid". Anyone who voices a differing opinion is called brainless.

Whenever I encounter someone who thinks that the tactic of name-calling and ridicule bolsters their position I point out that it only reveals their character and the weakness of their viewpoint.

I refuse to return the insults, and will not attempt a discussion with someone who thinks innuendo and insult is clever or worthwhile. We learn nothing about the one who is being derided, but learn much about the one who is being derogatory.

Yup I biked on the 22nd and didn't drive a car during the day.

I've got a bus stop by the house which would work out great IF I headed towards downtown. My commute is the opposite direction and crosses a county line, which around here is a no-man's land for bus routes. The bussing on the other side of that line is so minimal that it might as well not even be there.
Basically it's not even an option. Best I can do is carpool.

What purpose did that serve?

It was carfree day. So I biked? :p

I asked:
What purpose did that serve?

Yes, we know that you biked, but that doesn't answer the question. Let's see if the question can be made any simpler or clearer: What purpose was served by your not wanting to drive a car on that day?

Reducing CO2 emissions, not using any gas, saving money and getting some exercise.


I guess the idea of the "International Carfree Day" is just to raise awareness of biking and other ways to get places without using gas/diesel.

Would you not have done these things on your own? Did "International Carfree Day" convince you to do this every day from now on? Or only on the one day?

I agree - it is an "international" organized effort at 'consciousness raising' and mass persuasion, AKA propaganda.

Some entity had to have done the organizing and promotion of it: click here

It is undeniable that this is a movement that works through political activism. One primary arm of it that serves to recruit supporters CarBusters openly proclaims itself to be anti-automobile. That goal or agenda cannot be denied.

GGGGEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEZZZZZ Thyme take a pill will you!

yes one guy getting on his bike barely scratches the CO2 blanket given out by rest of us but I think its a good Idea to see that there is an alternative to jumping in the car, whether thats to do a 30sec drive to the store or an hour long commute.

If the general public tried doing stuff like this it COULD help not just the environment but getting their ass in trim. I mean, if you jump on a bike to pick up a some bread and a paper at the corner store 1 mile away, rather than get in a car drive, find a space, get out, get back in drive back, each time the car is on the ‘choke’ part of the ECU program. It might help the health of our respective nations. Plus I really like the pedestrianised parts of the towns and cities around me and when I travel through the rest of this quirky little continent.

In out of the last 12 mounths I’ve spent 5 cycling and taking a train as my commute, It wasn’t out of choice it was because I had no car. it wasn’t over summer either it was through one of the harshest winters the UK has seen in a while. 16miles a day on the bike and rounghly 25 mins on a train. I lost 20lbs (starting at 185).

I now see it as a viable alternative, if I need to go somewhere a short distance away on my own I take the bike or…….. wait for it…………walk.

I personally am PRO car, hell I’d be out of a job without them! I love the freeedom, I love racing them and we need them in terms of a viable personal transport - for doing stuff like ‘the big weekly groceries run’ or the odd time you buy something big, or taking the family somewhere or taking stuff to the dump. Or just to stay dry and warm on a wet day.

Take this a propaganda if you want, but I like the idea – in fact I think it should have got a little more coverage – because If I’d remembered I would have took the bike and train to work.

p.s. for someone on a ‘green’ site you seem to be making a big fuss over other peoples FREE CHOICE to take part in an event. I doubt its all political , doom, gloom and under handed propaganda by the anti car lobby, Heck the worlds governments can’t even figure out how to help other countries – Haiti is a good case in point – or themselves , I know this is a touchy subject but …..Katrina. I doubt they could muster anything of any threat to your way of life as after all it’s a choice! Free will etc etc.

p.p.s calling the French Nazis (national socialists) isn’t a very wise idea really as the two don’t really get along after the whole 1939-1945 spat they had. Especially seeing how you’re above name calling :P

Well.. Since you then will refuse to argue with me, I guess I get the last word? That's not much fun, but I'll take it...

I was indeed "namecalling" to some extent... Quite deliberately... Since you took a pretty extremely political standpoint and started spewing retoric that had little or nothing to do with the message... And did so while conviniently disregarding a few facts that are pretty easy to find out, looking at things happening in another country with an very simplified "american" viewpoint...

If you in the first sentance are using "you" to equate me... Well, then you are infact proving yourself to be both a liar and a rather inept one at that... Since I haven't actually argued enough politics on this board for you to be able to form an opinion on my political standpoint you are basing it on one sentance? Go read that sentance in context and try again...

You see, there is a small difference to what you said and what I said... I said "you are trying to label yourself"... Ie I didn't call you right-wing... I said that your posting suggested you might label yourself that... I did however say that you if you infact wasn't, was trying to start an argument... And that I found your arguments (in then to some extent you), stupid... That was something I feel was pretty justified, with your simplified and very biased blanket statement... I still feel that way, if your opinion isn't a bit more nuanced than that...

I haven't called anyone to date brainless... I like discussions, and for that you need differing opinions, so on that point you are kind of disproving yourself don't you think? I do however see some arguments as "stupid" and I will call them that, when someone chooses to conviniently disregard a rather obvious part of information in a discussion...

I'm not left-wing, just FYI... I'm however anti "americanism"... And before 99% of the population on this site go ballistic, read the full sentance... I like the US, and most of it's people... I do however have a problem with the way some people from the US, seem to have a built in filter that blocks out the rest of the world from their conscious or "translates" it when it manages to push through... You seem to be one of those persons, feel free to disprove it though...

I'm not saying you don't need the car, and I'm not saying euromodder don't need it since obviously in his town public transportation doesn't work for his commute... But the rest of the world isn't built on the same principle (physical sense) as the US... So taking that into account before making a statement might be wise...

Yes... CarFreeDay is propaganda... But despite the rather biased view on propaganda in the the wiki link you provided, that is infact as a word unbiased... It's political, yes... But it has no side, left or right... And not right or wrong either... Either side may use it...

If you look at the goal it's actually achieving, and what is realistic to expect to achive, then you will probably find that it's not really realistic to remove the car... And the guys behind it know that as well as you... But if you acknowledge that, well, then you loose that nice little dramatic standpoint, don't you? (which BTW is if you evaluate it criticly, is the same thing in terms of a writing tool, as re-enforcing a standpoint with namecalling or satire...)

Also as to euromodders statement (not you but it saves me another posting) on a minority imposing their will on a majority... Yes, but since it's not a mandatory thing, ie you don't get fined for taking the car that day, I have a hard time being upset about it... Point out a quantifiable "bad" effect of it, that doesn't involve a free choice to accept that compromise and I might be upset... (The polar example is pollution, it's quantfiable, it's bad, and it's a direct result of using a ICE car)

So, since we have concluded that it is propaganda, and that being that it in itself doesn't mean it's evil, and that the realistic goal could probably be to raise awareness, not kill the car, then we come down to the standpoint that it's actually propaganda for...

The message is in essence: Leave the car at home, one day of the year, get free public transportation to explore the possibility and viability of that for you personally on the other days of the year...

Now, without tacking on whatever guilt trip or anything else you on your own interpret into it, weather it's actually there or not... How do you feel about the message? If you feel the message is a "bad" message, then you are probably on the wrong forum...

Oh... BTW, as for spelling... Thanks for correcting that one for me... I get it wrong in some instances where the english word is that close in spelling to the swedish spelling, which is my native language... BTW I have lived and worked in the US as well as a few European countries... The difference is staggeringly polar...