Arlington's Car-Free Diet Blog

Welcome to Arlington’s Car-Free Diet, the easy, fun way to see how incredible it can feel to live a car-free or car-lite lifestyle. Each time you leave your car at home—choosing instead to ride ART or Metro, bike, walk or telework—you can save money, improve your health and clean our environment.

One Step At a Time

I have been without a car for a number of years now. I have used either the Metrobus or Metrorail for all my transportation needs. I share rides with my colleague to work whenever that is available. To all distances that are walkable, I simply walk such as to the post office, the grocery store, and the bank. Walking is built into my routine and I find that in this manner I get my daily bit of exercise without having to allocate a special time for it. Keeps me going through life one step at a time.

Aroon Shenoy, Arlington, VA

WALKArlington's New Westover Walkabout: Part of Your Halloween Week 7-Day Car-Free Diet Plan

Have you been wondering why you can't get into Arlington's Westover Branch Library ? Heard all the buzz about the cool new "green house" in Arlington's Westover neighborhood?  Curious about the renovations at historic Westover Apartments?  There's a lot going on in tiny Westover village, and you can get the back story on these happenings and more if you join WALKArlington on Halloween Day, Saturday, October 31, for our new Westover Walkabout!

The Walkabout, or guided walking tour, of the wickedly walkable Westover neighborhood kicks off at 10:30 a.m. in front of the new Reed School-Westover Branch Library at 1644 North McKinley Street. Walkabout guides will be stationed at 10 stops along the two-mile Walkabout route to share anecdotes (and maybe some ghost stories) about Westover's unique history, community resources, and walkable lifestyle. Don't be afraid! The 90-minute Walkabout ends where it began at noon, just in time for lunch at one of Westover's fabulous restaurants.

Scheduled to coincide with the opening of the Reed School-Westover Branch Library, the Westover Walkabout is free and open to the public. Registration is not required. And the Walkabout will take place RAIN OR SHINE.

WALKArlington’s new Westover Walkabout is being debuted as part of the Reed School-Westover Branch Library Community Celebration, which runs from 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. on Halloween Day. Organized by the Westover Village, Highland Park-Overlee Knolls and Tara-Leeway Heights Civic Associations, Arlington Public Libraries, Arlington Public Schools, and the Department of Environmental Services/WALKArlington, the rain-or-shine celebration includes live music, tours of the new school and library, an instrument petting zoo, cooking demonstrations, storytelling and crafts, a costume parade, face-painting, a moon bounce, discounts from Westover merchants, and more!

If you're looking for tricks or treats or both, there's something for everyone in Westover on Halloween Day. Costumes optional!  BOO!

--Lauren Hassel
WALKArlington Outreach and Promotions Manager

On the Car-Free Diet for 5 Years

Since I moved to Arlington about 5 years ago, I have lived my life without a car. So, I am already on a "car-free" diet. I walk and take public transportation to run my errands. I use Peapod to get most of my groceries. And let's not forget my computer. I order things on line to minimize the use of a car. In addition, I have a backpack on wheels which I use to carry heavy loads from store purchases. I call it my trunk.

Liana Cuffman, Arlington, VA

Commuters Urged to Ditch Their Wheels for 'Car Free Day'

Clunker Cash for Car-Freedom? September 22 and Beyond!

All the excitement about the success of the Cash for Clunkers program and the release of a recent study about how homes in more walkable neighborhoods are worth more than similar homes in less walkable neighborhoods got me to thinking, what would have happened if car-freedom had been part of the Cash for Clunkers equation?

What if folks who traded in a clunker had been allowed to use their cash to purchase or pay the mortgage on a home in a walkable neighborhood rather than buy a new, more fuel-efficient car?

We've all heard how the Cash for Clunkers program has helped to revive auto sales, but not as much publicity has surrounded the findings of a CEOs for Cities study by Joe Cortright entitled “Walking the Walk: How Walkability Raises Housing Values in U.S. Cities.”

The study analyzed data from 94,000 real estate transactions in 15 major markets, including Arlington. Using additional data from Walk Score, "Walking the Walk" found that in 13 of the 15 markets, higher levels of walkability were directly linked to higher home values.

My theory is that if some of the folks who participated in the Cash for Clunkers program had been given the choice to go car-free, perhaps they might have invested their clunker money in a home in walkable neighborhood.  And just as Cash for Clunkers helped the auto industry, choosing to go car-free could have benefited the economy by enhancing the local tax base. This choice would also contribute to individual wealth by increasing the value of what is, for most people, their biggest asset.

Whether or not you've made the choice to go car-free or car-lite, here's cause for celebration! World Car-Free Day 2009 is this Tuesday, September 22, so make plans now to leave your car at home or go car-lite on Tuesday! Whether you walk, bike, take transit, carpool with a friend, or work from home, car-freedom can be yours! 

Just pledge to go car-free or car-lite at www.carfreemetrodc.com. If you already commute car-free or car-lite, you can still pledge as a way to highlight your choice of using alternative modes of transportation. (Either way, make sure you register so you can win prizes!) 

Then as Car-Free Day turns to Car-Free night, join Arlington County Commuter Services to celebrate your car-freedom at Arlington's Car-Free Diet Celebration. The festive night of car-free fun runs from 4-8 p.m. on Tuesday at Mister Days in Clarendon. We'll be celebrating World Car-Free Day and the launch of Arlington's new Car-Free Diet Seven-Day Plan with free food, raffle drawings, trip planning assistance and more! 

Thanks to Arlington's Car-Free Diet Retail Partners, you can continue the celebration all week with Car-Free Day discounts at participating establishments from September 22-25. Just print out this Car-Free Day coupon and be sure to thank our Retail Partners for supporting World Car-Free Day!

Oh, and if Arlington's World Car-Free Day goings-on aren't enough to convince you to ditch the gas-guzzler, the entire week of September 21-25 is Try Transit Week! What more incentive do you need?

Whether you walk, bike, bus (ART 41 and 77 or Metrobus 38B and 24P) or Metro (Orange Line-Clarendon), we hope to see you at Mister Days on World Car-Free Day!

Lauren Hassel
WALKArlington

World Car-Free Day is Sept. 22

 World Car-Free Day is September 22 every year. It's a day when everyone in the whole world (yes, the whole wide world) is encouraged to give up their car and try an alternative such as transit, walking or biking. The idea being that if you can give up your car for a day, you can give it up for two days or three days until you are living a car-free lifestyle. And if more people go car free, the world will be less polluted, the streets will be less crowded and we won't be as dependent on foreign oil. The idea is also to show governments that people are willing to give up their cars and that resources should be put towards better bike lanes, sidewalks and other projects that make it easier to go car free.

In Arlington, we have been encouraging people to give up their cars, even if it's just a few days or trips a week, with Arlington's Car-Free Diet. Many people have shared their stories with us about how they are living a car-free life and it is easier than they thought. (See their stories here on the Car-Free Diet blog.) 

There are many car free events planned for the DC metro area to celebrate World Car-Free Day, here are two that will be held in Arlington:

Confident City Cycling Class
Saturday, Sept. 19
1:00 pm - 4:00 pm

Arlington's Car-Free Diet Celebration                                
Tuesday, Sept. 22
4:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Mister Days
3100 Clarendon Blvd.

This event is the kick-off for the Car-Free Diet Seven-Day Diet Plan. There will be free food, door prizes, free trip planning and more info about the Seven-Day Diet Plan. Mister Days is located near the Clarendon Metro Station as well as convenient to ART 41 & 77 and Metrobus 24P & 38B.

In addition, many Arlington Car-Free Diet Partners are offering discounts on Sept. 22 and during Try Transit Week, Sept. 21 - 25.

Plan to join us on September 22 and participate in World Car-Free Day. You along with the whole wide world will be celebrating going car free.

Bobbi Greenberg is the Marketing Director for Arlington County Commuter Services within the Department of Environmental Services.

Going Car Free is a Great Feeling

I decided to go car free in April 2009. I thought if I could last the summer without a car, I would be good to go. And so far so good!

I moved to Arlington from Herndon in 2008. I took the Metro to work in Silver Spring and much of the time I would leave my car at home during the week. I was making monthly payments and paying for gas for a car I no longer really needed. So when I decided to give up my car, it was scary. But so far I rarely think about it. I Metro to work and I'm learning to use the Arlington bus system so much better. And I'm also managing my time so much better now as well.

It's great. I don't even pay attention to how much gas costs anymore. I'm guessing I'm saving about $600 a month from not having a car and that's a great feeling.

Millie Sanchez, Arlington, VA

Celebrate Independence Day and Car-Freedom!

Here's another reason to stop depending on your car, starting this Independence Day!  WALKArlington's new Walkabouts brochure is in!  With fun- and fact-filled routes through 16 of Arlington's walkable neighborhoods and urban villages, this brochure is the ticket for getting out of your car and back on your feet!  Some of the routes (Rosslyn, Radnor-Fort Myer Heights) even take you to some fine locations for viewing fireworks this July 4th!

To order your very own copy of the new Walkabouts brochure free of charge, click here to set up your account, then click here, scroll down to Walkabouts, and place your order! 

Happy Trails and Happy Independence Day!  

Lauren Hassel
WALKArlington Coordinator

Making a Difference

We moved to the Metro DC area in 2007. Previously, we lived in an extremely rural area where progress had all but limited the small business trades. Everything one needed was now at least 20 miles away. When we moved to the Pentagon City area of Northern Virginia we took into consideration the amenities offered by the neighborhood. Transit buses and trains were available. Shopping venues were somewhat localized, but improvement is necessary to make some areas more consumer access friendly. The amazing thing is that by taking prior consideration to our transportation needs, we have reduced our carbon footprint with our automobile over 85%. We might drive 5 to 10 miles in a week, instead of 250 miles in the same time frame. Although our case is not the norm, our ability to make this change is an example of what one or two people can do to make a difference.

John Mayer, Pentagon City

Look Past the Cloud Cover and Discover New Horizons

On Friday Evening, Discover New Horizons with

a Rain-or-Shine Walkabout of Rosslyn

 

This urban village boasts the tallest buildings in the region, the third steepest escalator in the world, and even more superlatives at street level!

 

Discover the many horizons of Rosslyn on the evening of Friday, June 5, when Arlington’s gateway community plays host to WALKArlington’s newest Walkabout. The Walkabout or guided tour will be led by Arlington County Board Vice Chairman Jay Fisette, with support from Rosslyn and WALKArlington.

WALKArlington’s Walkabout route will take walkers from the green space of Gateway Park through Rosslyn’s bustling urban center, via sidewalks, skyways, and escalators, inside buildings and garages, past head-turning sculptures and busy construction sites, and back again. Speakers will share anecdotes about the neighborhood’s unique history, cultural resources, recreational opportunities, and future plans at ten stops along the way. The approximately one-mile, one-hour loop will begin at Gateway Park at 6:00 p.m. Walkers will return to Gateway Park by 7:00 p.m., just in time to kick off the second month of Rosslyn’s Outdoor Film Series “I Love the 80s,” with a screening of “Weird Science.”

                                        

THE FACTS

 

WHAT:  WALKArlington's Walkabout of Rosslyn

WHEN:  Friday, June 5, 2009; 6:00-7:00 p.m. (RAIN OR SHINE)

WHERE:  The approximately one-mile walkabout will begin and end at Gateway Park, between the north and southbound lanes of Lee Highway, at the intersection of Lee Highway and North Moore Street. For a look at the route, click here.

WHO:   Open to the public. Participants include Arlington County Board Vice Chairman Jay Fisette, Rosslyn BID Executive Director Cecilia Cassidy, Rosslyn BID and WALKArlington staff, and walkers who live, work, and play in Rosslyn!

FEE?  None; the Walkabout is FREE of charge. Registration is not required.

QUESTIONS:  Contact Lauren Hassel of WALKArlington at 703-228-0072 or lhassel@arlingtonva.us  or visit www.WALKArlington.com 

See you there, rain or shine!

ART 77 Brings New Way To Go Car-Free In Shirlington

At a time when other places are cutting back on transit service, Arlington is showing it's commitment to building a sustainable community by adding new bus service. Beginning Monday, June 8 the new ART 77 Shirlington-Lyon-Park-Court House line opens. Buses will run every 30 minutes, 6:00 am to 7:55 pm weekdays with key stops including the Shirlington Bus Station, Walter Reed Drive, Lyon Park, Clarendon and Court House. The service provides an important North-South or cross-County connection between the R-B Corridor and the emerging and exciting urban village of Shirlingtonand the neighborhoods in-between.

And on June 29, Shirlington will get enhanced service on the new ART87 Pentagon Metro-Army Navy Drive-Shirlingtonline. The ART 87 replaces ART 82 and Metrobus 22B with service six days a week.

Both of these routes will be served by brand new 35-ft. low-floor clean CNG vehicles (pictured here). Arlington Transit just took delivery of 12 of these beautiful buses and they'll also be used to replace some older buses on other routes.

If you live or work in Shirlington or just want to access some of the great restaurants, shops, theaters or new library, this is a good day. Now you can leave that car at home and go green with ART.

Chris Hamilton is the Commuter ServicesChief for Arlington County in the Transportation Division of the Department of Environmental Services, manager of CommuterPageBlog and a Metro/biking commuter from Rosemont in Alexandria.

Car Free and Loving It

 I moved to Crystal City from Myrtle Beach, SC in late May of 2007. I paid to insure, garage, and maintain my car for 13 months before finally ridding myself of the hassle, as I drove a total of 600 miles in the 13 months! I've now been without for 10 months at the end of the month and LOVE IT!!!!

Even though I no longer have my car, alternatives abound in the area when the need does arise to drive. Between renting at Reagan National Airport & Zipcars I am completely covered.

Not only have I saved money, I've also significantly reduced my carbon footprint!

Rob Padowski, Arlington, VA

Thanks to Biking, Transit and Telework

I used to be overweight. Then I stopped using my car and got on my bike. I've lost weight and my carbon footprint has trimmed down through a combo of biking, public transit and telework. Thanks to all three, I'm slimmer and there's one less car on the road!

Robin Jones, Arlington, VA

Why Stop There?

Last year I lived in Falls Church and commuted about 25-30 minutes to Rosslyn every day. I would often have to pay about $8/day for parking and we all know how expensive gas was/is. I "owned" a car that I was shelling out $300/month payments on, another $900+ per year for insurance, unknown hundreds on things like oil changes and tire problems, and of course several hundred dollars in property tax. In August, I moved to Ballston. Initially, I took the Metro and thought, "This is great. Now, I'm only spending $3.15 each day on my commute." But then I thought, "Why stop there?" I pulled out my old touring bike and I have been biking to work every day since September (all you have to do is bundle up in the winter). Not only that, but I sold my car in October! No more payments, and it turns out that biking into work is even faster than taking the Metro (thanks, Arlington bike lanes!).

Danny Cooper, Arlington, VA

Car-Free, Like It Or Not

A few years back, one of the major TV networks had a slogan they used for their prime-time lineup: "Must-See TV." They used that same slogan for several years, and I got a kick out of it when a comedian that starred in one of the shows added, "This year, they're enforcing it."

Well, we're always encouraging people to go Car-Free, but on Inauguration Day many will have no other option. There will be no access for personal cars to drive from Virginia into D.C on January 20. All of the bridges will be reserved for buses, emergency and other authorized vehicles, pedestrians and bicycles. (The Key and Chain Bridges will be open outbound -- you can leave D.C., but you can't go in.)

Even roads that are not officially closed may be closed in effect by heavy volume. For information about transit options, see the CommuterPage.com Inauguration page. There's also plenty of useful information on Arlington County's Inauguration page.

Now that locations for WABA's bike valet service have been pinned down, biking is looking like a good option, as Paul DeMaio notes in his post.

---

Joe Chapline is Web Manager for Arlington County Commuter Services

Car-Free for Two Years

Well, what started out as a general frustration with the cost of insurance, gas, etc...ended with me donating my car to charity just to be rid of it all. That was almost two years ago. I ride my bike every day, and every day is like I'm a kid again. The fun factor never dies and just the thought of all the money I'm saving keeps me in a perpetual state of happiness. Not to mention fitness.

Homer, Arlington, VA

Living Car-Lite in Crystal City

I recently moved to the Crystal City area of Arlington. My wife and I have lived in Arlington for about 16 months, but have never lived in an area that was close enough for one of us to walk to work. Now that I both live and work in Crystal City, I have the option to walk to my office each day! This is a welcome change from having to pay an average of $10 per day for  parking; not to mention filling my car up each week with premium gasoline. In the event that I'm running late and don't have the time to make my short walk, the Metrobus 9S is just off my door step! Between my wife driving a hybrid (she works in Arlington too!) and choosing to leave my car in the garage -- we feel pretty good about what we're doing to help the environment. Oh yeah, the weekly savings of not driving my car every day are pretty nice too! My wife and I definitely appreciate the benefits of living in Arlington.

Lloyd Bowers, Arlington, VA

Cross-Train While Commuting

I'm training for a marathon, so several days per week I use part of my commute as a cross-training exercise. On those days, instead of driving to the MARC train station, I bicycle to the Germantown station to commute down to Union Station and then take the Metro to work. Also, each day I walk almost a mile to my office from the Metro stop.

Lori Stone, Germantown, MD

One Car Family

Since moving to the DC area over a year ago, we committed to being a one car family. The locations where we lived have been served by the 21B or 21D routes making it convenient to ride Metrobus and then the Metro to get to work. Being a one car family has taken some getting use to, but now I am even more committed with the cost of gas. There are some minor logistical issues, but we have made the sacrifice and enjoy the cost savings. It has been a great choice.

Michael Davids, Alexandria, VA

You Can Live Without a Car

After moving to the Courthouse area of Arlington I sold my car. After having a car for over 50 years it was very strange. But I found myself learning how to "Metro" and relearned how to walk. Amazing how much better you feel. Whenever a car is required I simply rent with Zipcar. Rent by the hour, gas and insurance included and all the cars are new. All types from sub compacts to pick-ups. Yes you can live without a car.

Robert Chanow, Arlington, VA

Carpool and Walk to School

I now carpool with three other people in the morning on my way to school and walk with friends home from school -- it's nice to know I'm helping the environment and myself and saving my parents' money! Thank you car-free diet!

Katie (age 13)

Don't Have to Rely on a Car

I worked in Arlington from 1990 - 2001. I drove to work every day. When I returned to Arlington in 2007, I began using Metro due to the government subsidy. I take the bus to Metro then to Ballston. Regularly using the transit system has shown me I don't HAVE to rely on a car. I now use Metro as often as I can. A few days a week I take my bicycle into work on Metro after biking to the Metro station, then ride home. I also now use my bicycle for short errands (grocery, library, haircuts). I still need to use my car for long trips to visit family and for scuba trips, but transit has shown me I can avoid much wear/tear on my car, gas prices and parking fees. The biking gets me home around the same time as the transit commute, but I sure burn more calories!

Renee Amodeo, Vienna, VA

Changing My Commuting Habits

I don't live in Arlington, but would like to tell my story:

I drive a 4WD P/U. It gets 16 mgp city. I don't have far to drive to work. It's 2.5 miles. But in that short distance the truck doesn't get to operating temp. So I'm guessing I get around 10 mpg to work. So it's about a gallon a day. I work 6 days a week. I bought a scooter and have been driving it everyday to work all summer. I have to fill the scooter once a week, it takes a whole gallon. I changed vehicles because of high gas prices and $40 billion gas company profits, but I know I'm doing my part to help save the planet. I rode my bike to work 3 - 4 times, I carpooled 5 - 6 times, and walked home 4 times. It's a start!

Thanks for spreading the word!

Glenn Ray, Naselle, WA

Biking to Lose Weight

Short but true story.

After I hit my 30's it became really hard for me to lose weight. I ran, didn't work. I started swimming and I didn't lose too much. Then a friend of mine moved to the Netherlands, after 6 months over there she came back for a visit and she was really thin. I was really impressed because she narrowed down almost 3 sizes in 6 months! When I asked for her recipe, she just said that since she could not afford a car in the Netherlands, she had to commute to school and work bicycling. I could not believe that. But I decided to give it a try.

I bought a nice TREK bike and it has been fantastic!

I have been riding my bike at least 60 miles per week for the whole summer and none of my friends can believe how much weight I have lost. Bicycling has become a great experience for me -- my legs feel great and my whole body is getting so fit that I am planning to continue this as a permanent habit.  Beside the healthy side of commuting by bike, if one takes the trails, one will miss all the noise and hectic driving of daily traffic.  It is very worth it. Car-free diet has been for me the best diet I have tried.

Andrea, Falls Church, VA

Run to Work

I thought that the events of the 9/11 Memorial Dedication at the Pentagon would put Crystal City into one of its traffic gridlock days, so I decided to run to and from work -- Arlington Heights to Crystal City!

As it turns out the traffic for the day was not bad; but neither was running up the "hill of death."

I was also pleasantly surprised how little extra time (for clean up, extra time running, etc.) this cost me out of my day. There is a lot to be said for organization and having everything in one gym bag.

Cathy Camp, Arlington, VA

On World Car-Free Day, Come to Clarendon and Walk from Rush Hour to a Happier Hour

  This Monday, September 22, come celebrate World Car-Free Day with a WALKArlington Walkabout of Clarendon, Arlington's original downtown! This rush-hour-to-happy-hour evening tour will take walkers from Clarendon's Metro Park through the pedestrian-friendly core of this thriving urban village and back again. Speakers will share anecdotes about Clarendon's unique history, cultural resources, gathering places, and car-free lifestyle. After all, Clarendon was car-free before car-free was cool!

The hour-long Walkabout kicks off at 6:30 p.m.; walkers should arrive by 6:15 p.m. so we can head out on time! Meet at the west end of the Clarendon Metro escalator awning, near the large pine tree. Check out the Clarendon Walkabout route map to see where we'll be heading. (For this abbreviated Car-Free Day Walkabout, we'll cover stops 1-4 and 7-10 only.)

WALKArlington's Car-Free Day Clarendon Walkabout is free and open to the public. Registration is not required.

And thanks to Arlington's Car-Free Diet and the Clarendon Alliance, Clarendon's many restaurants and shops will be offering World Car-Free Day discounts and promotions to customers who've gone car-free. Just take the Car-Free Diet Challenge to get your coupon, print it out, and bring it along on Monday!

So, ditch the car and take Metro's Orange Line to Clarendon, hop on Metrobus, ride Arlington Transit (ART), bike or walk. Explore all of your transit options at www.commuterpage.com/art/villages/clarendon.htm !

And don't forget to come back to Clarendon from noon to 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 27, for Clarendon Day, Arlington's biggest party!

Lauren Hassel
WALKArlington
Arlington County Commuter Services
Department of Environmental Services

So Easy

My friend from San Francisco came to visit over Labor Day weekend. She is very aware of "being green" so we took the Shirlington bus to the Pentagon Metro to DC to visit museums, etc. I never knew it was so easy! Now that I know how, I am planning to go to DC more often. This weekend we are planning a family trip by Metro to the National Building Museum. We'll save about $15.00 taking the Metro vs. parking.

Ann Murray, Arlington, VA

Cycle to Transit

I was a bit skeptical about taking another job 25 miles from home. My husband is an avid cyclist and I liked it as a recreational past time. For the summer, I decided to try my hand at cycling to public transportation instead of driving. That first day was pretty tough, but now I really look forward to the time I spend on my bike.

S. Auckerman, Manassas, VA

Walk and Shuttle to Work

I have lived in the Courthouse area for a number of years after previously being in Ballston. I started walking plus using a company shuttle from Rosslyn to avoid wear and tear on my car and myself. Now the shuttle is FREE and my car, a 1990 (still getting 35 mpg on highway) has only 60,000 miles!

Diane Kelly, Arlington, VA

Car Free for 6 Years

Upon moving back from LA to DC in 2002, I didn't have a car. And I didn't get one. I decided I didn't want one. For the last 6 years, I have only lived no further than 2 miles from work. When I transferred jobs,  I used Metro and bus from NW to Bailey's Crossroads for 9 months, then I moved 1 mile from my new location. I have a Zipcar membership if I want to buy something big.

David Luecke, Arlington, VA