Buses, Walking and Bikes: Car Free Day 2018

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The third annual Car Free Day celebration is almost here! The Office of Sustainability, in collaboration with Transportation and Parking Services, will be holding the national celebration on Thursday, September 20th. This year, we hope to increase the number of students, faculty, and staff that sign the Car Free Day pledge to go car free, showcase the increasing importance of sustainable transportation, and give YOU the chance to win a bike courtesy of Lehigh Dining Services.

Car Free Day is a nationally recognized event that raises awareness about the positive impacts of ditching your car in favor of a more sustainable form of transportation. There are many ways sustainable transportation helps the community, such as reducing your carbon footprint, reducing traffic congestion, and becoming less dependent on nonrenewable resources like gasoline. In addition, going car free can immediately help your own personal life as well! A brisk walk or bike ride to work can help increase your physical activity levels, which contributes to a healthier lifestyle. Most forms of sustainable transportation are also more cost efficient than driving a car, so you can use that extra money for something more enjoyable! If you live too far away from work/school to warrant the more active forms of transportation, you can still get involved by either carpooling or taking public transit. You can always find a way that works best for your lifestyle! Take it from Sharon Field, LU Parking Services Manager:

"Car Free Day gives us all an opportunity to learn how to get to/from campus by using other means: walk, bike, carpool, transit. We can learn about these options and try one until we find one that suits our schedule and needs. I, myself, have walked to/from campus.  On September 20, I will try taking the Lanta bus. I called Lanta, and the customer service representative mapped out my route for me."

In order to celebrate those who participate in Car Free Day this year, there will be two events held:

VIP Breakfast

There will be a VIP Breakfast held in STEPS 102 from 7:30-9am on September 20th for the students, faculty, and staff that sign the pledge before then. This will include complimentary breakfast items such as bagels, granola, fruit, orange juice, and coffee (because who doesn’t need a hot cup of liquid motivation in the morning!) You can either choose to grab some food and go on your way to class/work, or there will be space set up to mingle and chat with others!

Car Free Day Vendor Showcase

The second part of the celebration will be a Car Free Day Vendor Showcase on September 20 at the Butz Plaza (outside of FML) from 11am-1pm. Here you will find organizations and services from in and around the Lehigh community that support sustainable transportation. From bike shops, to carshare services, to Lehigh’s Transportation & Parking Services, there will be plenty of ways for you to learn more about these practices and how to become more sustainable. There will also be a bike ride organized by the Coalition for Appropriate Transportation, where you can either bring you own bike and ride along with other cyclists or utilize the Zagster bike share for the occasion. Located right above the Thursday Farmers’ Market in Farrington Square, this event is open to anybody, so make sure you stop by on your way to the market!

If that wasn’t enough of an incentive, every person that signs the pledge is automatically entered into a raffle, with the top prize being a Pepsi bike courtesy of Lehigh Dining Services! So make sure you check out the main Car Free Day webpage for more information about how to get involved with the celebration, and sign the pledge to create a more sustainable community!