TransForm Car-Free Challenge 2010

TransForm is hosting another Car-Free Challenge this year and is calling on you to participate by going car-free, or at least reducing your usual driving, from June 1 to June 7.  Everyone is strongly encouraged to participate in the challenge (you can register online).  It’s a nice opportunity to experiment with transit or bicycle routes for commute and for recreation, and it’s a fun way to bring car-free living more into the mainstream.  Hopefully it will also convince people to integrate non-automotive travel into their daily routine, and that the environmental and lifestyle benefits of doing so are worthwhile.  Even if you are already car-free, you should still participate.

The Car-Free Challenge is also a great way to show support for TransForm.  Although this organization has gained notoriety in the past year by charging forward in the campaign to oppose the Oakland Airport Connector, they have being doing important land use, transportation, and climate change advocacy for years now — certainly at the local and regional level, and more recently at the state level, including legislative efforts and work with the State Air Resources Board.  TransForm puts in a lot of time to make the Bay Area a better place, and they are well worth your support.  Participating in the Car-Free Challenge is a great way to do just that.

To get you in the mood to leave the car at home, TransForm provided this entertaining YouTube video:

Finally — and I do realize the irony of tacking this to the end of a post about going car-free — but just in case you’ve been stuck in a cave the past few months, Muni’s planned service cuts go into effect starting today, May 8, 2010.  There are a separate set of temporary service changes (including bus substitution) associated with the St. Francis Circle rail replacement project, and those changes also start May 8.  If you have not done so already, you can avoid unpleasant surprises by planning ahead.  Please take a moment to study all the service changes.