For Immediate Release
Contact: David Abel, MORPC Project Coordinator
(phone) 614-233-4197, (pager) 614-510-3716
Car Free Day Supporters to Gather at Statehouse
to Celebrate Being Car Free for a Day
(COLUMBUS, September 10, 2004) - By bicycle,
by bus and on foot Car Free Day Columbus supporters
will travel to the Statehouse in downtown Columbus
on September 22, 2004 to mark the fourth annual
celebration of Car Free Day in Columbus. The Statehouse
event will feature a press conference at 12:00
p.m. with local elected officials, Central Ohio
Transit Authority (COTA) bicycle rack demonstrations,
prize drawings and sponsor displays. Car Free
Day Columbus 2004 sponsors include the Mid-Ohio
Regional Planning Commission, COTA, Columbus Outdoor
Pursuits, Central Ohio Bicycle Advocacy Coalition,
City of Columbus, Franklin County Commissioners,
OSU Transportation & Parking Services, Cup
O’ Joe and Baer Wheels.
On September 22, Car Free Day Columbus supporters
will join over 1,500 cities through out the
world in the annual celebration of Car Free
Day. Each city organizes its own Car Free Day
message and public event. Car Free Day Columbus
seeks to raise awareness of alternative transportation
options available to central Ohio residents,
such as walking, cycling and riding transit.
“Cycling is not just for recreation it’s a viable
alternative to automobile travel,” said John
Gideon of the Central Ohio Bicycle Advocacy
Coalition. “Hopefully with Car Free Day we can
convince others to replace a trip that they
would normally take with their car and ride
their bike or walk instead.”
The event also challenges participants to consider
the health, economic and environmental impacts
of our over-reliance on the automobile. Barb
Renick, a volunteer with Columbus Outdoor Pursuits,
a non-profit organization that provides recreational
opportunities for adults and youth, is encouraging
members to participate in Car Free Day. “We
think Car Free Day is a great way to get more
people to think about choosing healthier travel
options, such as cycling or walking…these are
great ways for people to boost their physical
activity in their daily lives,” said Renick.
In addition to promoting the health benefits
of alternative transportation modes, Car Free
Day builds awareness of the challenges central
Ohio faces with increased automobile use. Even
though vehicle emission technology has improved
dramatically, residents are driving more. In
central Ohio, Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT, an
indicator of automobile usage) have increased
43 percent over the past 10 years. With this
rapid increase in automobile use, central Ohio’s
air quality has suffered. Over half of air pollution
in the region is contributed by mobile sources,
such as cars, trucks and recreational vehicles.
Designated non-attainment for failing to meet
US EPA ozone pollution standards, central Ohio
is required to develop a State Implementation
Plan (SIP) by 2007 demonstrating how it will
reduce emissions to get back into attainment.
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