World Car Free Day

Hundreds of cities around the world celebrate World Car Free Day (WCFD) every September 22 by organizing activities dedicated to the promotion of sustainable mobility.  The theme for Sault Ste Marie this year is: Thank You for Not Driving.

We are asking employers, schools and businesses to put up posters (see enclosed) in prominent places to encourage and show our appreciation for non-drivers.  Posters are available free of charge by contacting the organizer (see below). 

A challenge has been issued to the community and to city council to be car-free on Monday September 22.   Councilors and city staff, who use sustainable modes of transportation to get to council meeting on September 22, will be recognized for their efforts at 4:00 pm in front of city hall. 

Thank You for Not Driving

Thank you for riding a bicycle, walking or taking public transit instead of driving.  You are making a positive difference in the community by reducing air pollution, traffic congestion and noise.  You are improving the world by reducing greenhouse gas emissions.  You are part of the solution to the melting ice caps, extinction of species, floods and hurricanes caused by climate change. 

You are also reducing the need for more roads in Sault Ste Marie.  Despite a static population, traffic volumes have increased dramatically in the past 25 years causing significant congestion especially around the Second Line/Great Northern Road area.  Sault Ste Marie has the second highest km of road per capita in Ontario, and we are currently planning on building significant extensions to our road system to deal with this increasing volume.  This includes the extension of Pine Street, Third Line and South Market at a cost to taxpayers of approximately $20 million.  If more people chose to drive less or not at all, it would reduce or eliminate the need for these roads. 

By choosing not to drive, you are also improving your health and saving money.  If you choose active transportation like walking and cycling, you reduce your risk of heart disease, obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes, cancer and respiratory illnesses.  In turn you reduce your need for our publically funded health care system and social support networks required for people who are disabled by diseases caused by lack of physical activity, air pollution and road traffic accidents.

For this year’s car free day, we are asking city council to expand the green committee’s mandate to research and evaluate ways and means to reduce our dependency on private motorized transportation.  The committee would review world wide trends and proven methods to deal with traffic congestion that do not require road expansion.  This could include a review of the Transportation Master Plan as well as a review of long term plans to mitigate urban sprawl.  For example, limiting the size of retail stores encourages smaller neighborhood retails shops reducing the need to drive to go shopping.  Parking fees should be implemented in all public places to truly reflect the cost of providing this service to motorists.   

 Once again, for everyone who rides a bicycle, walks or takes public transit: thank you.

 For more information contact Sault Ste Marie WCFD organizer:

Andre Riopel  W 705 253-2354   H 705 942-3119

Email andre@backinmotion.ca  

For free posters email us at info@velorution.ca