From Harford County government:
The Harford County Commuter Assistance Program and the Harford Transit bus system will team with Harford Community College’s Student Life Division to celebrate Car Free Day on September 22, 2010. On this day, all Harford Community College students will ride free when they show their student ID and present a voucher to the bus driver.
Students can pick-up vouchers at the Student Life Office in the Harford Community College Student Center.
Although Car Free Day is relatively new to Harford County, it is in fact an international event celebrated every September 22nd. On this day people are encouraged to get around without their car – which means using transit, bicycling, walking and all alternative modes of transportation such as riding in a car or van pool. Getting cars off the roads provides an opportunity for people to consider how their neighborhood or in HCC’s case, their campus might look with a lot fewer cars. Going car free, supporters also help to improve air quality, save money, and reduce their carbon footprint. Those using a Harford Transit bus to get to HCC, have the added benefit of taking their bicycles with them to get around campus. Each bus is equipped with bicycle racks.
Car Free Day events highlight the problems caused by our dependence on automobiles, 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 alternatives.
Car Free Day is really a lesson in options. Car Free Day is not an event against cars. Clearly gasoline powered engines are still needed for much of our transportation needs. However, Car Free Day emphasizes the need to explore other transportation options.
Citizens may find a new mode of transportation that perhaps better suits their lifestyle. The important thing is to be aware of options that are available as opposed to personal vehicles such as cars and trucks.
Harford Transit provides public transportation to Harford Community College from Havre de Grace, Aberdeen and the Harford Mall in Bel Air. Harford Transit bus route 2/2A connects with the 1/1A bus at Harford Mall to take students and staff to Harford Community College. Check the Harford Transit website at harfordtransit.org to check schedules for each stop and go Car Free on September 22.
According to the U.S. DOE buses consume about 25% more fuel and hence pollute more per passenger mile than do passenger cars. See table 2-12 in the publication linked below.
http://cta.ornl.gov/data/tedb29/Edition29_Chapter02.pdf