Today is World Carfree Day!

[Piwoslaw]

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?

[cfg83]

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

[Piwoslaw]

Originally Posted by cfg83

It would take me 2.5 hours to get to work on public transit, so I will be in violation, .

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.

[robchalmers]

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

[captainslug]

Originally Posted by Piwoslaw

healthier for us

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

[Piwoslaw]

Originally Posted by captainslug

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'?

[captainslug]

Originally Posted by Piwoslaw

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.

[Piwoslaw]

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.

[Phantom]

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)

[robchalmers]

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