CAR FREE FRIDAYS!?

Hello INDYCOG readers!

Just a friendly reminder that if you're not on your bike as much this winter that you can still make every Friday or any day for that matter car free.

Obviously the easiest way to do this is to ride your bike or walk to work/school/etc.

However, we are fortunate enough in this city to have another option that could be viable to many city dwellers... IndyGo! Yeah yeah yeah, it's not the most efficient or reliable bus system in the world, but it does work for some. Almost 5 million trips were made in 2008, and I would imagine that 2009 wasn't too far off from that either.

After the New Year, IndyGo released an online trip planner. This basically saves you from deciphering schedules by giving you step by step directions on how/when/where to catch the bus. I was fortunately able to test the trip planner in its BETA and I found it to be very useful. It can be a little clunky at times, but the information it provides is legit.

Personally I use the trip planner combined with www.whereisindygo.com as it offers an iPhone/mobile version that is very handy on the go.

Also, if you're an IUPUI student you can pick up an S-Pass at the Jag Tag Office, which allows you to ride the bus for free until August 31st, 2010. Click here for more information.

If you're looking for another option, don't forget about the Central Indiana Commuter Services. CICS offers information on car/van pools as well as benefits to citizens who bike and take the bus.

Big Friday!

Tell everyone you know, and even those you don't. Click here for more info about what CM/CM is all about.

And, as it is every week, this Friday is Car Free Fridays. We encourage you to leave the car at home, grab your bike, and pedal to work. You know, we'd even be happy with you taking IndyGo, but since we're a bike blog, obviously, we're a bit more prone to encourage bikes. The whole point though, is to leave the car in the driveway.


And, after CM/CM, if you're looking for something to do, I think myself and a few others might head out to Major Taylor Velodrome for Hot Summer Nights - Bicycle Racing at the Velodrome , featuring some of the fastest 'dromers from the Midwest. Come on out and bang on the boards with us.

Car Free Friday tomorrow

Don't forget Car Free Friday is tomorrow, and the Friday after that, and the Friday after that, and after that.. etc. It's supposed to be another day in the low 80s tomorrow. It's been such perfect weather to be out on a bike lately. Get out there on your bike tomorrow and enjoy it!

Car Free Fridays Kick Off

Today was the first day of Car Free Fridays. How'd everyone do? Who all commuted? Did anyone commute today who doesn't regularly? I'd love to hear some feedback in the comments.

Also, we'd really like to start offering some discounts and incentives to people who are taking part in Car Free Fridays. If you are a business and would be willing to offer a discount to those commuting, contact me at christopher@theindycog.com.

Your business will go on a list of businesses giving incentives to commuters on Fridays that will be featured on the upcoming Car Free Fridays page here at IndyCog.

Lastly, don't forget CM/CM tonight! Hope to see a good turn out!

Don't Forget! This Friday is--

Tell everyone you know, and even those you don't. Click here for more info about what CM/CM is all about.

Also, this Friday is the kick off of Car Free Fridays in Indy. We encourage you to leave the car at home, grab your bike, and pedal to work. You know, we'd even be happy with you taking IndyGo, but since we're a bike blog, obviously, we're a bit more prone to encourage bikes. The whole point though, is to leave the car in the driveway.

If you see a guy on the Monon with a baby blue messenger bag, feel free to say hello. Or, if you see an impressive beard riding a green Kilo TT on the east side bike lanes, I'm sure Ben would be glad to get a "Top o' the mornin' to ya," as well. Trust me, you'll know what I mean by "green."

If I don't pass you on the trail, I hope to see you at CM/CM!

Car Free Fridays comes to Indy

All right, we're starting something new, again, and we're "launching" it on July 10th in conjunction with this month's Courteous Mass, Critical Manners.

We asked Bike Pittsburgh if we could take their Car Free Fridays movement and bring it to Indy, which Erok seemed pretty stoked about, and gave us some advice for starting it here. We have some cool plans for it, including getting some local businesses to throw in some discounts and incentives to further encourage people to leave their cars in their driveways for at least a day a week. We're also planning to publish some commuting tips and resources to help everyone figure out routes and rides on a local level.

Unfortunately, since we both have pretty hectic lives right now, they have to stay in the "plans" category for now. But, we will update you as we get things worked out with various businesses, and of course, if you keep checking back, those resources and such will be made available as we get them created.

I mean, why should we celebrate and encourage commuting one day a year on National Bike to Work Day? So, next Friday, and every Friday after that, we encourage you to leave the car in the driveway, step on your pedals, and enjoy a ride to work. Use the next week to figure out a route, maybe get some friends with a similar commute to join you.

Shoot, if you work this Friday, and you feel like an overachiever, by all means, start Car Free Fridays this week!