Washington D.C. —Commuter Connections is going viral with social media on Car Free Days this September 20 through 22. This year, the program will tweet event info, take pledges online, and collect images from participants via Instagram, to encourage the region’s travelers and commuters to try green, convenient commute options by eliminating or reducing drive-alone commuting for one, two, or three days.
A “TwitterChat” on Wednesday, September 18 from 2 to 3pm will offer information on Car Free Days, with how-to tips on cutting transportation costs to create a healthier environment. Virtual attendees can join the fest by following @CarFreeMetroDC on Twitter. Commuter Connections has teamed up with Clean Air Partners, a nonprofit partnership chartered by the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments and the Baltimore Metropolitan Council, the Washington Area Bicyclist Association (WABA) and the Automobile Association of America (AAA) to promote Car Free Day participation through the Twitter event.
Car Free Day participants can share their reasons for going car free along with a photo of their favorite way to get around without a car via Instagram by using #CarFreeMetroDC.
Commuter Connections is taking pledges to participate online at www.carfreemetrodc.org. Travel to work, school, a ball game or a picnic by train, bus, bicycle, carpool, vanpool, Metrorail or walking during Car Free Days to qualify for a prize raffle. Those who already use transportation alternatives can take the free pledge to go Car Free or Car Lite as well. Prizes available include:
- Apple® iPad™– courtesy Tri-County Council for Southern Maryland and Maryland Transit Administration
- $250 gift certificate, courtesy BicycleSPACE
- Bikeshare –- annual memberships, courtesy Capital Bikeshare
- CarSharing – free one day car rental, courtesy car2go
- CarSharing – one year membership fee waived, courtesy ZipCar
- Commuter Rail – train passes, courtesy Maryland Transit Administration and Virginia Railway Express
- Restaurant – $25 gift cards, courtesy Mellow Mushroom of Adams Morgan
- SmarTrip – cards loaded with $25 of fare, courtesy WMATA (Metro)
- Carless Commute package #1 - One year membership to Capital BikeShare plus a set of Urbeats headphones, courtesy RideScout
- Carless Commute package #2 – One day car2go rental including registration fee (max 150 miles), plus a set of Urbeats headphones, courtesy RideScout
- Coworking office space - Single open desk at Rosslyn or Dupont locations for month of November, courtesy of UberOffices
In addition, the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) will host PARK(ing) Day on Friday, September 20, 2013 from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., and has issued six-hour temporary parking permits for participants to turn metered street parking into temporary parks, offering urban green-space. Participants are also encouraged to share their experiences using #CarFreeMetroDC through Instagram.
Car Free Day is an annual event organized by Commuter Connections, a regional commuter transportation network coordinated by the National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board at the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments.
Information on travel options for commuters and travelers is available at the Commuter Connections website. Site visitors can set up a free account and request a ride match, make carpooling plans, and learn about other transportation opportunities to decrease the number of single- occupant vehicles on the road and congestion around the Washington metropolitan region.