Officials: Sept. 22 is 'Car Free Day' in Huntington

Try to leave the vehicles home Monday Sept. 22. That’s “Car Free Day” in Huntington, town officials said.

At the Sep. 16 Town Board meeting, Supervisor Frank Petrone presented Rosemary Mascali, co-chair of Car Free Day Long Island, with a proclamation officially announcing the town’s participation in the event.

They are asking town residents to consider getting to work that day by foot, train, bus, bicycle or car pool, or at least to drive less than they usually do. The goal is to reduce traffic, conserve energy, reduce harmful emissions, improve fitness, reduce parking problems and save money.

This is the Second Annual Car Free Day Long Island, part of World Car Free Day, which is celebrated in over 1,500 cities in more than 40 countries around the globe. Last year, more than 2,500 Long Islanders participated, resulting in 65,000 fewer miles driven and the elimination of 33 tons of carbon monoxide from the air. As part of a related effort, 50 town employees last year took the Car Pool Challenge, agreeing to carpool to work for a month. They reduced single occupancy vehicle miles by 2,104 and carbon monoxide emissions by 2,116 pounds. Town employees are signing up to take the challenge this year.

Car Free Day Long Island is organized by a coalition of Long Island leaders and led by Transit Solutions and 511 NY Ride Share. More than 75 Long Island organizations are participating in Car Free Day Long Island.