Seattle's car-free weekends are kind of a bust
How do you encourage people to green their means of transportation? If you're Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels, you close down one neighborhood each weekend to car traffic and force people to walk, ride, or bike. They're called 'car-free days' and they're part of Nickels' initiative to Last weekend's event had to be cut short on account of rain and general non-observance. Ouch. According to reports, there were more cops out directing traffic than happy citizens out riding their bikes and enjoying their car-free neighborhood. Not only that, but people were moving the signs and just driving around them. Other people are complaining that their cars were towed needlessly to clear the streets.
I have to say, I can't really blame the frustrated drivers. In my town, it seems like there's a marathon every other weekend. Street closures can turn a 10 minute drive to the grocery store can turn into a 35 minute wait in bumper to bumper traffic. That's certainly not green or efficient.













