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Car Free Day deemed success - Full parking lots do not dampen the resolve of event organizers
Wed, 09/28/2005 - 05:00 — Anonymous
Car Free Day was developed as an event to encourage alternative transportation and reduce the unnecessary use of cars. It began at 7 a.m. with the Tour d’ Arcata bike ride, which drew a hefty crowd of about 200.
Those who participated in the tour or rode the bus to school on Thursday got to chow down on a free breakfast with bagels from Los Bagels, cookies from the Great Cookie Caper, coffee from Sacred Grounds and fruit from the Co-op.
Much of the food was either donated or discounted, and the club fundraised for whatever needed to be purchased.
“A lot of people supported us,” Dykman said.
B Street was also blocked off as part of the event, and people were given sidewalk chalk to draw on the road. A forum on the Quad was held, as well as music and free films, followed by a discussion about alternative transportation in the evening.
The five Alternative Transportation Club members started planning for this year’s Car Free Day last spring. The planning included obtaining permits for the bike ride, finding businesses to donate food, getting the administration to close off B Street and booking entertainment.
Car Free Day did have a lot of support from the community and students, but some complained they were uninformed, and more advertising should have been done.
“A lot of people didn’t really know,” Matthew Lankila, an undeclared freshman, said from the window of his white Dodge Ram as he pulled out of the SBS parking lot.
Raina Gomez, a pre-nursing sophomore, said, “I don’t really know about it. I still see cars, and there would be cars parked up and down [B Street if it wasn’t blocked off].”
Others in support of the idea of alternative transportation said it still wasn’t possible for them to ditch the car.
“It has its purpose and I think it’s cool, but I drive because I have two children,” wildlife senior Kristy Meredith-Culbert said. “People are always going to need to drive.”
Even Ryan Emenaker who was tabling on the Quad in support of Car Free Day drove to school that morning because he had to set up his equipment. “There aren’t good viable alternatives,” he said. “I carpooled though.”
Though not everyone could leave their cars at home, the Alternative Transportation Club was still happy with the results and the turnout.
“I’m fully stoked on the B Street closure. It totally shows you how it could be,” said Astrid Dobo, one of the five club members who helped put the event on.
For those interested in next year’s Car Free Day, the Alternative Transportation Club meets on Wednesdays at 5 in the South Lounge.
Written by Tara Apperson - Editor-In-Chief - HSU Lumberjack
Thursday, September 29, 2005
Car Free Day was developed as an event to encourage alternative transportation and reduce the unnecessary use of cars. It began at 7 a.m. with the Tour d’ Arcata bike ride, which drew a hefty crowd of about 200.
Those who participated in the tour or rode the bus to school on Thursday got to chow down on a free breakfast with bagels from Los Bagels, cookies from the Great Cookie Caper, coffee from Sacred Grounds and fruit from the Co-op.
Much of the food was either donated or discounted, and the club fundraised for whatever needed to be purchased.
“A lot of people supported us,” Dykman said.
B Street was also blocked off as part of the event, and people were given sidewalk chalk to draw on the road. A forum on the Quad was held, as well as music and free films, followed by a discussion about alternative transportation in the evening.
The five Alternative Transportation Club members started planning for this year’s Car Free Day last spring. The planning included obtaining permits for the bike ride, finding businesses to donate food, getting the administration to close off B Street and booking entertainment.
Car Free Day did have a lot of support from the community and students, but some complained they were uninformed, and more advertising should have been done.
“A lot of people didn’t really know,” Matthew Lankila, an undeclared freshman, said from the window of his white Dodge Ram as he pulled out of the SBS parking lot.
Raina Gomez, a pre-nursing sophomore, said, “I don’t really know about it. I still see cars, and there would be cars parked up and down [B Street if it wasn’t blocked off].”
Others in support of the idea of alternative transportation said it still wasn’t possible for them to ditch the car.
“It has its purpose and I think it’s cool, but I drive because I have two children,” wildlife senior Kristy Meredith-Culbert said. “People are always going to need to drive.”
Even Ryan Emenaker who was tabling on the Quad in support of Car Free Day drove to school that morning because he had to set up his equipment. “There aren’t good viable alternatives,” he said. “I carpooled though.”
Though not everyone could leave their cars at home, the Alternative Transportation Club was still happy with the results and the turnout.
“I’m fully stoked on the B Street closure. It totally shows you how it could be,” said Astrid Dobo, one of the five club members who helped put the event on.
For those interested in next year’s Car Free Day, the Alternative Transportation Club meets on Wednesdays at 5 in the South Lounge.
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