Cindy Jayne

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On June 1, 91 people across Jefferson County participated in the first community-wide Car Free Day by using less car-dependent ways to get to school, work, or to run errands, and overall 1,195 miles were not driven. Many thanks to all participants, and the many organizations that helped spread the word or donated prizes!  

The idea for the event came from recent modeling from the Jefferson County/Port Townsend Climate Action Committee, and also builds on a previous Car Free Day done by the Port Townsend High School Students for Sustainability in 2019. The modeling identified the need to reduce transportation emissions as a key opportunity to reduce our community-wide greenhouse gas emissions, and noted that the two top ways to achieve that are to reduce “vehicle miles traveled”, and to electrify transportation. 

The range of ages participating was impressive – from 3 to 75 years old. Bicycling was the top way participants commuted, with 39 percent of participants, followed by 21 percent riding a school bus, 14 percent walking, 10 percent taking Jefferson Transit or other public transit, and 9 percent carpooling. One of the participants realized the benefits of carpooling by participating, and noted, “This did it for me, I will carpool as often as possible.” 

The participation form asked “What would make it easier for you to commute in the alternative way you did on June 1 more often?” and the answers ranged from better bike routes, more frequent buses, a later start time, to better weather! 

Regarding better weather, as someone who used to bike-commute year round, I encourage folks to experiment with commuting in various kinds of weather. I started bike commuting only on long, dry, summer days, and ultimately ended up cycling all year round, including in the dark and rain. I found that it was a matter of gear (as well as a place to change and dry off.) Rain pants and a jacket, along with a bright bike light, made the rainy, dark commutes just a challenge to tackle. 

With gas prices so high right now, all of us could consider how we might save money, as well as lower the air and water pollutants from our cars, by reducing our driving in some way. It could be as simple as combining trips where possible, looking for a co-worker who lives along your route and works similar hours, or checking out the Jefferson Transit bus schedule. And if you find challenges, handle them with those who might be able to help – your employer, Jefferson Transit, the city or county, etc. Reducing traffic on our roads benefits all of us in the community in myriad ways.

You may not have been able to participate on June 1, but any day can be a car-free or car-less day! 

Many thanks to all the co-organizers of Car Free Day, including Jefferson Transit, Port Townsend Students for Sustainability, and Jefferson County Public Health, along with Local 20/20, as well as to The Chamber of Jefferson County for assisting with prizes! 

(Cindy Jayne is part of Local 20/20’s Steering Council, co-leads its Climate Action Group, and also chairs the Jefferson County/Port Townsend Climate Action Committee.)