Government Eco-Action Monday: Go Car Free in Arlington

The Washington-metro area is consistently ranked as one of the worst cities in the country for traffic and commuting. This strikes me as odd because our area is also consistently ranked as one of the best for public transportation. In Arlington, the local government has created “Arlington’s Car-Free Diet” program to boost public transportation ridership and reduce traffic congestion.

The car-free diet program begins with a survey that evaluates your regular driving habits to determine the financial cost, environmental cost and health cost of driving. Once you’ve determined the impact of your driving routine, the survey compares your numbers with the impact of taking public transportation, biking and walking. After comparing the impact of other options, the car-free diet program encourages you to create a new plan for getting around town. The plan lets you choose which transportation option best suits your lifestyle, it then compares the impact of your new transportation plan to your previous one.

If you’re interested in giving up your car, or at least reducing your dependence on one, the Arlington Car-Free Diet program is a great resource  to get started. In addition to the handy survey, it also provides information on biking trails, public transportation, car pooling, teleworking, car sharing and more.

Take some time to learn more about getting on a car-diet, you might be surprised how much weight your carbon-footprint and your body will lose. Check out the website HERE.

Photo Credit: Flickr CC User Blacknell