This year's Car Free Day, when people are encouraged to get around without cars and instead ride a train, bus, subway, bicycle, or carpool or walk, happens on Sept. 22 on Long Island.
Last year, the day was celebrated in more than 3,100 cities in 50 countries around the world, according to Car Free Day Long Island's website. It is marked in different ways, "but with the common goal of taking cars off the road," it says on the site. "The benefit to society is a day with less traffic congestion, a greener environment, and reduced energy use."
Those pledging to eliminate or reduce driving, including trips for work, school, and/or to run errands, are eligible for prizes, among them all-access Long Island Rail Road tickets and gift cards. Sign-up is at carfreedayli.com.
At an East Hampton Town Board work session last week, Councilwoman Sylvia Overby said the town is in competition with communities like Huntington and Northport to have the most residents pledge to forgo automobile transportation on Sept. 22.
"Last year’s pledges placed East Hampton in the top five participating municipalities in Car Free Day Long Island," she said this week. "We hope we can get in the top two."