Department of Community Services and Harford Community College Celebrate Car-Free Day

From Harford County government:

(Bel Air, MD) – – The Harford County Department of Community Services’ Commuter Assistance Program will team with Harford Community College’s College Life Office to celebrate Car-Free Day on September 22, 2009.

Harford County’s Rideshare Coordinator will be on hand in the College’s Student Center from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Tuesday, September 22 to provide information and transportation options to help students and employees learn more about Harford Transit, as well as car and vanpooling options.

Although Car-Free Day is relatively new to Harford County, it is an international event celebrated every September 22. On this day people all over the world are encouraged to use public transit, bicycling, walking and all alternative modes of transportation such as riding in a carpool or vanpool instead of riding alone in their car.

By going car-free, supporters help improve air quality, save money, and reduce their carbon footprint. Cyclists taking a Harford Transit bus to Harford Community College have the added benefit of taking their bicycles with them to get around campus. Each Harford Transit bus is equipped with bicycle racks for easy transportation options. Car-Free Day events highlight the many problems caused by our dependence on the private automobile, including air pollution, global warming, stress, and safety issues. World Car-Free Day emphasizes the rights of pedestrians and cyclists and the need for more and better transportation options.

Car-Free Day is really a lesson in options. Citizens need not limit themselves to a single transportation philosophy. Car-Free Day prompts us to ‘think outside the lanes’ and to explore other varied and efficient ways to get around, be aware of available options, and to choose public transit, car or vanpooling, cycling or walking to rediscover our local community, outside the confines of riding alone in our cars.

Anyone who wishes to participate in Car-Free Day can get to Harford Community College by choosing Harford Transit bus 1/1A from Havre de Grace, Aberdeen and the Harford Mall in Bel Air for stops to the College. Also, Harford Transit bus route 2/2A and 3 (Bel Air Town Go Round) connects with the 1/1A bus at Harford Mall. Visit www.harfordtransit.org to check the schedules for each stop and go car-free on September 22.

For more information call Pat Fielder, Harford Commuter Assistance, at 1-410-638-3069. The Harford County Commuter Assistance Program is a division within the Department of Community Services and provides free travel training on public buses, and free ride-matching services for those seeking to join a carpool or vanpool.