Car Free Day Celebrated Locally!

Car Free Day is recognized internationally and annually on September 22nd. It was founded on the aspiration that people would be encouraged to travel by means other than a car on that day (and in the future!).

This year marks the sixth year that Ossining has been planning community events around Car Free Day (annually on September 22nd) which now includes a weeklong celebration into Drive Electric/Mobility Week.

In partnership with 511NYRideshare, Green Ossining, the Village, and the Town of Ossining, there will once again be encouragement for Ossining residents to reduce their single occupancy driving on Car Free Day by teleworking, biking, scootering, walking, carpooling/vanpooling, driving an electric vehicle, or riding public transportation like a train, bus, or subway.

To kick-off the importance of these events, and in acknowledgement of the responsibility and need to reduce harmful emissions created by one of Ossining’s greatest contributors to greenhouse gases — single-occupancy internal combustion engine (ICE) car use –– both the Town and Village have passed a Transportation Alternatives Campaign Resolution.  The Campaign will seek to educate the public on pollution caused by driving and encourage residents to drive less and use alternatives such as walking, cycling, using public transportation, including children riding school buses and using ride-sharing/carpooling.  More coming soon from our outreach partners in Green Ossining.

We kicked-off our celebration at the Farmers Market last Saturday (9/16) with local e-bike shop Pedego to help educate folks and help reduce their personal environmental impact. Then on Car Free Day (Friday, 9/22), participating partner businesses offered a special reward designed to thank you for going car-free/car-light (using an EV, carpooling, etc).

While the planned Market Square event on Saturday, 9/23 (9a-Noon) is canceled (inclement weather forecasted),  if you want to check out electric vehicles from a variety of enthusiasts, check out the EV Corral organized by Green Ossining sister-org, Croton100/CURE100, at the Croton Rotary Auto Show/ Croton Train Station on Sunday, October 1st.