On Monday, September 22, come celebrate World Car-Free Day with a WALKArlington Walkabout of Clarendon, Arlington's original downtown! This rush hour to happy hour evening tour will take walkers from Clarendon's Metro Park through the pedestrian-friendly core of this thriving urban village and back again. Speakers will share anecdotes about Clarendon's unique history, cultural resources, gathering places, and car-free lifestyle.
The hour-long Walkabout kicks off at 6:30 p.m.; please try to arrive by 6:15 p.m. so we can stay on schedule! Check out the Clarendon Walkabout route map to see where we'll be heading.
Thanks to Arlington's Car-Free Diet and the Clarendon Alliance, Clarendon's many restaurants and shops will be offering World Car-Free Day discounts and promotions (see "Car-Free Discounts" article below for details); be sure to support these establishments before and after the Walkabout.
So, ditch the car and take Metro's Orange Line to Clarendon, hop on Metrobus, ride Arlington Transit (ART), bike or walk. Explore all of your transit options at www.commuterpage.com/art/villages/clarendon.htm !
And don't forget to come back to Clarendon from noon to 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 27, for Clarendon Day, Arlington's biggest party!
Car-Free Diet Recipes for Car-Free Day
Lose 2,000 pounds in one day, by leaving your car in your driveway! If that's your kind of diet and you haven't signed up yet, then World Car-Free Day is the perfect time to take the Car-Free Diet Challenge!
To sweeten the deal, the Car-Free Diet folks have cooked up a few Car-Free Day recipes to give you more reasons than ever to get out of your car:
Free Ride on Arlington Transit Take the Car-Free Diet Challenge and you can download a coupon for a free ART (the green bus) ride. The coupon is good for a ride on any ART bus on Monday, September 22 (World Car-Free Day) only!
Confident City Cycling Class If you'd like to add two wheels to your Car-Free Diet regimen as a complement to walking and transit, join the Washington Area Bicyclist Association on Car-Free Day/September 22 from 4-6:30 p.m. for a free cycling class. The class will be held at 2100 Clarendon Boulevard, Suite 913, in Arlington.
More Free Stuff When you go to www.carfreediet.com, take the Car-Free Diet Challenge, share your Car-Free Diet story, and use the Car-Free Diet calculator, you'll get a coupon for the special Arlington edition of "How to Live Well Without Owning a Car."
Now you have no more excuses!
Car-Free Discounts for Car-Free Day
But wait, there's more! If you take the Car-Free Diet Challenge in time for World Car-Free Day (that's Monday, September 22, folks), you can get a coupon for discounts at Arlington merchants from Clarendon to Shirlington, Columbia Pike to Westover!
Here are just a few examples!
- 15% discount on all food and beverages at The Front Page in Ballston.
- 10% off all parts and accessories and all new tune-ups at winter rates at Revolution Cycles in Clarendon.
- One FREE cup of "fresh drip" coffee at Boccato on Wilson Blvd. in Clarendon.
- 10% discount off entire bill at Mexicali Blues on Wilson Blvd. in Clarendon
- $15 discount off a bicycle tune-up at Papillon Cycles on Columbia Pike.
- 20% discount on any purchase at Olsson's Books & Music at Court House, in Crystal City and at National Airport.
Check out the complete list of Arlington's Car-Free Day partners at http://www.carfreediet.com/world_car_free_day_partners.cfm, but remember you have to take the Car-Free pledge to get your coupon!
Looking Ahead to a Car-Free Future
We can dream, can't we? Well, they say children are the future, and next month, many Arlington Public Schools students will take baby steps toward a car-free future by participating in International Walk and Bike to School Day 2008. Part of a month-long celebration, the event encourages students to walk and bike to school while educating them on the health and environmental benefits of walking and biking. Walk and Bike to School Day also raises community awareness about the importance of pedestrian safety education, safe routes to schools, well-maintained walkways, and traffic calming in neighborhoods and around schools.
Walk and Bike to School Day 2008 takes place on the morning of Wednesday, October 8 (rain date: Oct. 15). This year, Arlington will highlight Walk and Bike to School Day activities at Abingdon Elementary. County and APS officials will join Abingdon students and parents as they walk and bike their way to school together. Educational activities and healthy refreshments will be provided for participants at rest stops en route and upon arrival at school following the morning “commute.” A rally will be held on the track at the school before students head to class.
APS selected Abingdon to be highlighted this year in recognition of the school’s demonstrated commitment to walking and as a tribute to the Abingdon students who already walk and bike to school regularly. In addition to the activities at Abingdon, other Arlington County elementary and middle schools are being encouraged to hold their own Walk and Bike to School Day event(s) during the month of October.
(Photo: Students at Long Branch Elementary School arrive at school on Walk and Bike to School Day 2007)
