This Friday, the City of Santa Monica challenges residents, employees, visitors, and students to go car free for one day. Hundreds have pledged to go car free, including students at McKinley Elementary School who will be celebrating with a “walking” school bus, bike trains, and free rides on the Big Blue Bus. The #CarFreeFriday challenge is part of the City’s GoSaMo initiative to get more people trying Santa Monica’s complete transportation network of rail, bus, bike share, and walking.
WHEN: Friday, October 7, 7:30 – 9:30 a.m. and all day
WHAT: A day of carefree living by going car free and getting more people comfortable using alternative modes of transportation. It’s good for people’s health, the environment, and gives people options for how they move around the region. GoSaMo ambassadors will be at Santa Monica’s three Expo Stations and select Big Blue Bus and Breeze Bike Share Stations to cheer on car-free riders this Friday. They will hand out buttons and stickers saluting people for trying transit and living a car free or car light lifestyle.
McKinley Elementary School will be hosting a walking school bus where students will walk to school carrying a big yellow cardboard school bus. Principal Susan Yakich will lead one of two student bike trains to school. All students will be greeted on campus with a bike-it-walk-it celebration, including an “Arc de Triomphe” at each school gate. National Walk to School Day is October 5.
WHO:
· Santa Monica residents, employees, and visitors who opt for a day going car free.
· McKinley Elementary School students, parents, and school administration.
WHERE:
· Throughout Santa Monica, but GoSaMo ambassadors will be at Santa Monica’s three Expo Stations and other select sites.
· McKinley Elementary School, 2401 Santa Monica Boulevard, Santa Monica
o Walking School Bus: Meeting point at the corner of 26th Street and Santa Monica Blvd. near the CVS at 8:05 a.m.
o One bike train from 16th street & Arizona Avenue lead by our principal Dr Yakich: Meeting point at the corner of 16th street & Arizona Avenue at8:10 a.m.
o One Bike Train from Broadway and Stanford Street: Meeting point at the corner of Stanford and Broadway at 8:00 a.m.
Great opportunity for live standups and photos from the Santa Monica Expo Stations and McKinley Elementary School.