Step away from the car

Not only is Friday (May 21) the season’s first Car Free Friday, it is also National Bike to Work Day.

Car Free Fridays were begun by BikePGH last year to get Pittsburghers to explore alternative forms of commuting, including biking, walking, public transportation, ride sharing and car sharing.

Partners in the campaign include Port Authority, the City of Pittsburgh, CommuteInfo, Zipcar, the Airport Transportation Corridor Association, Oakland Transportation Management Association and Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership.

According to the American Public Transportation Association, one person switching to public transit can reduce his or her daily carbon emissions by 20 pounds. An APTA study released this month said Pittsburghers who ride public transit save an average of $8,340 annually.

Port Authority says about 600 of its 861 buses now are equipped with bicycle racks.

Car Free Friday events are Downtown and in Mt. Lebanon, Oakland, South Side and East Liberty. For more information visit www.bikepgh.org.