In its second year Car Free Fridays encourages us to try a car-light lifestyle and celebrate the neighborhoods and municipalities of the Pittsburgh region.

Last year BikePGH started Car Free Fridays because we had come to expect rain on Bike to Work Day in Pittsburgh. It was definitely a bit anticlimactic.  The well seasoned cyclists would still come out to represent, but  the new folks who needed a little push to help make a dream come true had another reason to put it off for another year.  We were in a real bind, to put a lot of time and energy into something that was as fickle as the weather was tough to justify, and the one day a year made it feel like an all or nothing proposition.  We also recognized the benefit of bringing all the alternative transportation options together to promote the idea of not driving alone to work.  Last year, our Car Free Friday Kickoff included businesses throughout the City of Pittsburgh.  This year, we’re changing it up a bit and highlighting a different neighborhood each month through the fall, starting with Mount Lebanon during May.

In no time the Port Authority, the City of Pittsburgh, CommuteInfo, Zipcar, the Airport Transportation Corridor Association, the Oakland Transportation Management Association, and the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership saw the benefit and rallied behind the effort.

At the very least Car Free Fridays’ aims to get people talking and thinking about transportation. The truth is how we choose to travel impacts not only ourselves, but our community too.  Most of us have to drive some of the time, but let’s make sure it’s a conscious choice and not a routine habit. The focus of Car Free Fridays is to showcase the excellent transportation alternatives available to us in the Pittsburgh region.  And we’re also getting ready to launch a Car Free Calculator in several weeks that will help put into perspective the benefits of not driving from a health, environmental, and financial perspective.

In May, the focus of Car Free Fridays has been in Mount Lebanon.  BikePGH presented a Bike Commuting forum at Aldo Coffee earlier in the month and the Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation will host a walking tour on May 29th.  This Friday is the main event when everyone from around the region is invited to Mount Lebanon car free. Economic Development Officer Eric Milliron has worked hard recruiting local businesses to provide special offers to anyone who agrees to sign up and go car free for the day.  The voucher includes discounts to Mount Lebanon, Downtown, and Oakland businesses (Thanks! Oakland Business Improvement District).

• Eric has also booked the band City Dwelling Nature Seekers to jam at Clearview Common, a really cool little venue nestled right in the middle of the business district from 6:00 to 9:00 pm.

You’ll be able to pick up the discount vouchers at six Bike to Work Day/Car Free Fridays stations around the city in the morning. If you miss the morning events just come out that evening to sign up.

For participating you’ll also have a chance to win a bunch of prizes. . .

• a month long bus pass,
• a Zipcar membership with driving credit,
• a BikePGH membership with swag,
• a year long lease at the new Bike Commuting Center downtown,
• gift certificates from local restaurants.

If you don’t know Mount Lebanon well, Car Free Fridays is an excellent chance to check it out.  Although it’s considered a suburb it definitely has the vibe of an affluent urban neighborhood.  For starters it has sidewalks, and it has had transit oriented development for several decades.  You can reach it from downtown in about twenty minutes via the T, which is faster and more convenient trip than it is from many city neighborhoods.  Mount Lebanon also has a lot of small, unique, locally owned boutiques and businesses – some of them are featured on the voucher.

For going to Mount Lebanon car free it’s hard to beat the Red Line T.  If you haven’t taken the T before or only use it sparingly it’s a treat.  It sort of gives the sensation of being on vacation and exploring a new town. You’ll pass through South Hills Junction, Beechview, Dormont, and really see the area from a different perspective. The Red Line runs past the midnight hour.  Beginning at 8:00 pm it runs about every 30 minutes, and more frequently during rush hour.  Go to the Port Authority’s website for the most up-to-date schedule.

If you want to take a bike with you on the T it is permitted, except during peak hours, 6:00 – 9:00 am and 4:30 to 6:30 pm (folding bikes have no peak restrictions).  Placing a bike on the T can be a little tricky because there’s not a designated space for it, so you either have to hold onto it, or find a little nook that’s out of the other passenger’s way.  It’s not too bad, but it won’t feel like you’re traveling light.  Bicycling out to Mount Lebanon is an option too.

BikePGH highly recommends mapping out your route in advance and riding with friends.

Zipcar and carpool (3 passengers) would also qualify for Car Free Fridays benefits.

For information about the day’s event go here . . .

It’s gonna be a fun night and going car free is reason to celebrate!

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Not a member of BikePGH? Join today! We need you to add your voice! Bike Pittsburgh works to protect cyclist’s rights and promote the vision of making Pittsburgh a safer and more enjoyable place to live and to ride. For more info, check out: www.bike-pgh.org/membership