Car Free Day, Sept 22, 2024

Could you go car free? How about for a day?

Please join us as we celebrate World Car Free Day. This year it falls on a Sunday so we'll start the ride at 3pm from the Boston Common near the Charles St. and Beacon St. entrance. We'll ride for about 10 miles at a slow pace, following traffic laws but keeping the group together. The duration will be around 90 minutes and finish at Dewey Square.

About World Car Free Day

World Car-Free Day on 22 September a great opportunity to reduce air pollution

Every year on or around 22 September, cities across the globe celebrate World Car-Free Day, encouraging motorists to give up their cars for a day. The event highlights the numerous benefits of going car-free to citizens—including reduced air pollution and the promotion of walking and cycling in a sa…

United Nations Environment ProgrammeUnited Nations Environment Programme

We applaud the City of Boston for all of the improved bicycling infrastructure and we hope that this trend continues to chip away at our car dominated streets. But there is still a long way to go with far too many people dying on our streets and too many people afraid to even try riding on them. Meanwhile the climate crisis continues to accelerate. Transportation solutions that focus solely on the private automobile will not meet green house gas reduction goals. Governments have known about the dire situation for decades but have been captured by oil lobbyists and car manufacturers to defund public transit. Cars are getting bigger, requiring more energy and physical space and putting everyone outside them in danger.

USDOT Warns Congress That Americans Need to Drive Less to Survive Climate Change — Streetsblog USA

“The U.S. will not be able to decarbonize the transportation sector without addressing increased demand,” a recent DOT report wrote.

Streetsblog USA homeKea Wilson

Bicycling is part of the solution

The humble bicycle is incredibly efficient at moving a person through dense urban areas. It can cut through traffic like a hot knife through butter. Parking is free. It allows for interaction with the community. There are so many wonderful reasons to bike instead of drive and it doesn't have to be all or nothing. Car Free Day is a challenge to try it - see if you can shift your transportation needs away from the car and into active transport. You might never want to go back...

Here are some of the amazing benefits:

We hope you'll join us on the ride to celebrate being car free!