Car Free DC is coming up next week – Tuesday, September 22, 2009.   Sign up, pledge to go car free or car-lite.   Also, come on down to the street celebration between 11am and 3pm on the 22nd – the street celebration will be happening outside of the Portrait Gallery and the Verizon Center at 7th and F streets NW.

What is Car Free Day, you ask?

Car Free Day is an international event celebrated every September 22nd in which people are encouraged to get around without their car – highlighting transit, bicycling, walking and all alternative modes of transportation. By taking a fair number of cars off the roads people who live and work there are given a chance to consider how their neighborhood might look and work with a lot fewer cars. Click here for more information about World Car Free Day.

Washington celebrated Car Free Day for the first time in 2007 with about 1,000 District residents committing to be car free for the day. Last year, Car Free Day expanded to the entire Washington Metropolitan Area, and 5,445 residents throughout the region pledged to be car free. This year we hope even more drivers throughout the region will leave their cars at home or go “car lite” by sharing a ride to work. By taking the Car Free Challenge, participants not only help to improve air quality, save money, and reduce their carbon footprint, but also get a chance to win great prizes at the event.

Come on out next Tuesday.