There is something to say about not even being aware that today, Sept 22nd, 2009 is Car Free Day here in Montreal. I can be excused that I am new to the city, this is by the way its 7th year running. I was disheartened to find out that it was car free day NOT because i drove (i sold my car, and bike everywhere these days) but was disheartened because there was just as much congestion on the roads like any other day. It’s not like I stepped on my bike and was like, oh gee there are not a lot of cars today on the road, leading me to discover it was Car Free day. I found out from a nice gentleman with a large megaphone unlocking his bike next to mine. He looked at me and said “How are we ever going to do anything about Global Warming?” Despair lingered in his eyes. He was older and I could tell he had more riding on our species figuring this out sooner RATHER than later. This man was committed to the cause, fighting the good fight not for himself but his children. I tried to cheer him up by encouraging him to come out, with kids in tow to Critical Mass. I hope I see him there.
I guess this will serve as a reminder to all of you, wherever you are to make sure you are aware when your cities Car Free days are, or even better yet get one started if it doesn’t exist. Start small, blindly choose a page from your calendar, and make a contract with your friends and family to have a Car Free day and go from there, have it spread to you community, work, school… If you know it’s a Car Free day and you notice people in cars, politely ask if they knew it was Car Free day. I am sure if people knew they would be less likely to drive, and who knows maybe next year they will walk or bike instead.
Have a lovely sustainable day. <3
