Worldwide Car-Free Day: September 22, 2023

Reduce your carbon footprint by going car-free on Sept. 22, a day marked across the globe as Car-Free Day.

Communities all over the world are encouraging residents to take public transit, walk or bike instead of driving alone in their cars.

In the Bay Area, Fairfield and Suisun Transit (FAST) is offering free rides on the FAST, FAST Connect and DART systems from Friday, Sept.22, through Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023.

According to 2021 data from the U.S. Department of Transportation, 52% of all trips were less than three miles and 28% of all trips were less than one mile. For many people, these distances can reasonably be covered with public transportation, or by walking or biking.

Taking fewer trips by car can really add up. According to MTC’s Vital Signs, between the years 2010 and 2015, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from surface transportation accounted for an average of 48% of all of the Bay Area’s GHG pollution.

This week, due to poor air quality from West Coast wildfires, the Bay Area Air Quality Management District has issued a Spare the Air Alert for Thursday, Sept. 21, and Friday, Sept. 22. Drivers are encouraged carpool or leave their cars at home, and wood burning is prohibited. Learn more at SpareTheAir.org.