It’s that time of year once again where everyone in Columbus is encouraged to ditch the car for 24 hours and utilize alternative transportation options to get around town. Car Free Day takes place tomorrow, September 21st and encourages residents to consider the environmental and financial benefits that come with other modes of transportation.
So what exactly does going car-free mean? Do you need to buy a bike to ride it for just one day? Or go out of your way to ride the bus if you don’t live near a bus route?
We spoke with Evelyn Ebert, Air Quality Coordinator at MORPC to find out what options exist for participating in tomorrow’ event. Here’s the five ways she suggests that you can go car free:
1. Ride COTA.
Let’s say your car gets 25 miles to the gallon and you drive alone 5 days a week for your 10 mile round trip commute. You’re spending around $122 per month on your commute, and that excludes the cost of a monthly parking pass. Buy a monthly COTA pass instead for $62 and become refreshingly unacquainted with your neighborhood gas station. Computer your commute HERE.
2. Telecommute.
It isn’t an option for all vocations, but Car Free Day is a great day to try working from home. Reduce traffic congestion, improve local air quality, and stay in your jammies all day if that’s your thing.
3. Ride a bike.
Never have to sit idling in gridlocked traffic to get to the gym again. What better season to try bicycling than crisp, golden autumn in central Ohio. Improved heart health is a convenient perk to the whole bicycling gig as well. Brush up on your bicycle safety HERE.
4. Walk.
Try walking for any trips fewer than 2 miles. It might be the only time you get to yourself all day!
5. Carpool.
It’s the social and economical solution for those who might not live or work on a bus line or in a walkable area. MORPC’s RideSolutions program helps commuters find carpools. Learn more HERE . When central Ohioans carpool, we all get to breathe cleaner air.
More information can be found online at www.carfreedaycolumbus.org.