Happening now: Join CoolMom & friends to ‘Think Outside the Car’

| Environment | Transportation | West Seattle news

(First 3 photos by WSB’s Patrick Sand)
Music, fun, and food right now in the north lot at Westside School (WSB sponsor), 34th just south of SW Holden, where CoolMom‘s “Think Outside the Car” kickoff celebration continues till 2 pm. BottleRockit is playing, and the Lumpia World and Athena’s food trucks are selling lunch:

There’s another kids’ bike parade planned at 1:30 pm, and in the meantime, don’t be chicken about getting an “Undriving License”:

(added) Here are Hannah and Elliot Goldstein with theirs:

(Photo by Undriving’s Julia Field)
“Think Outside the Car” is a campaign not to get you entirely out of your car, but to encourage walking and biking when possible, and also to reduce driving impacts – asking people not to idle their engine while waiting at school, for example. Watch for more info and events to come.

ADDED 5:40 PM: One more photo – this one from Don Brubeck, who was there volunteering with Cascade Bicycle Club:

The Cascade mention reminds us – Bike To Work Day is coming up on May 18th.

capo April 28, 2012 (12:25 pm)

So drive on down and enjoy the activities! There’s plenty of parking!

Tracy White April 28, 2012 (12:46 pm)

Buses run every half hour today, it appears:
http://metro.kingcounty.gov/tops/bus/schedules/s021_1_.html
Could be worse!

WSB April 28, 2012 (1:00 pm)

We mentioned in our morning preview that there also was an organized bike ride to the event from Lincoln Park.

JN April 28, 2012 (3:15 pm)

Coolio!

bike2work April 28, 2012 (7:39 pm)

I LOVE this philosophy but wow is it difficult in Seattle even for the most committed. We are a family of five. We sold our second car 4 years ago. We only have one car and rely on bike and bus (Seattle school buses for our kids and Metro fro me) to get around town. However, after a honest try we are ready to buy a second car and then I’ll be just another fool polluting the air and taking up space on the West Seattle Bridge. Here is why I’m giving up…

1. I have become increasingly fearful for my safety when riding my bike (I go to U-district for work). I totally stopped riding about 4 months ago. I’m an experienced year round rider with lots of commute miles under my belt but ultimately I feel terrified out there. Animosity between motorist and cyclist is high. And Seattle roads are simply not safe enough for cyclist. I hate being on Marginal Way with the big trucks. There have been WAY too many deaths of cyclist on our roads over the past 12 months. And I am done. Although, I reserve the right to change my mind.

2. Getting to the U-district by bus, on a good day, takes a solid hour door to door, but more often than not it can take up to 1.5 hours (I can run home faster than that). The bus is obviously slower than a car (even when stuck in the terrible bridge traffic) and also slower than my bike!!! Believe it or not. And a round trip costs more than a day of parking in the U-district. There simply is no incentive for me to take the bus.

3. We just returned home from a trip to Boston. Wow…they know how to get people around that city! I’m so impressed with their mass transit. Seattle has a long way to go! I know we will get there…but while I wait…I’m getting a car and driving.

And as a side note…wow…it is so frustrating to see all these parents drive kids to school and see school buses half empty. What are we thinking????

Harry Reems April 28, 2012 (7:46 pm)

Very cool event, stuff like this is what makes West Seattle the best community in the city.

Gene April 29, 2012 (6:14 pm)

Even if you can’t reduce driving for whatever reasons, most drivers can reduce how much they idle. If you know you will be stopped for 10 seconds or more, then it’s better to shut your engine off. Simple thing to do that helps.

Many hybrids (e.g. Prius) will automatically turn off the combustion engine when stopped, and a few newer Fords do, but the vast majority do not.

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