{"id":121782,"date":"2018-09-19T16:11:23","date_gmt":"2018-09-19T21:11:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.metrostlouis.org\/?p=121782"},"modified":"2024-02-29T09:57:52","modified_gmt":"2024-02-29T15:57:52","slug":"new-american-road-trip-joins-metro-on-stl-car-free-day","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.metrostlouis.org\/nextstop\/new-american-road-trip-joins-metro-on-stl-car-free-day\/","title":{"rendered":"New American Road Trip Joins Metro on STL Car-Free Day"},"content":{"rendered":"

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The \u201cNew American Road Trip\u201d is partnering with Metro Transit and other organizations throughout the St. Louis region to highlight the importance of sustainability and creating healthier, more equitable and environmentally friendly communities, and will host a special event in the Cortex Innovation Community on STL Car-Free Day, Friday<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The \u201cNew American Road Trip\u201d is an electric-vehicle tour, which launched at the Global Climate Action Summit<\/a> in San Francisco, and is traveling across the nation to share the stories of people, cities and emerging technologies that are impacting the country\u2019s energy future. St. Louis is one of four cities in the country chosen to host a \u201cNew American Road Trip\u201d event.<\/p>\n

Metro Transit and other community partners will join the \u201cNew American Road Trip\u201d at the special event at the Cortex Commons on September 21, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.,<\/strong> where they will award $10,000 to local innovators who are addressing climate change with innovative mobility and transportation solutions in the St. Louis community. Attendees will be able to talk with and get information from local transportation partners and services, while enjoying music, food trucks and the opportunity to view, ride and drive electric vehicles. The event is free and open to the public.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>The \u201cNew American Road Trip\u201d event is part of a slate of special events scheduled across the bi-state area for STL Car-Free Day<\/a> on Friday, where visitors can win prizes, enjoy food and music, and have fun while learning about the benefits of a car-free lifestyle and all of the alternative transportation options available to them. Area participating partners include Big Shark Bicycle Company, Bird, City of St. Louis, Cortex, Great Rivers Greenway, Lime, Madison County Transit, Metro Transit, RideFinders, St. Clair County Transit District, Trailnet, University of Missouri Extension, St. Louis Blues and St. Louis Cardinals.<\/p>\n

\u201cMore and more metropolitan areas throughout the world are looking at car-optional transportation services, which are not only good for the environment and reduce congestion, but deliver tremendous civic and economic benefits as well,\u201d said Jessica Mefford-Miller, Executive Director of Metro Transit. \u201cThe future of mobility will include a wide variety of car-free options, and we want to help everyone discover new ways to travel \u2013 whether it\u2019s public transit, cycling, scooters or ride-sharing \u2013 so we can create a brighter future for our region.\u201d<\/p>\n

STL Car-Free Day begins during the early morning commute<\/a> on Friday with a visit from Fredbird, who will surprise passengers on one of the area\u2019s MetroBus routes with free tickets to an upcoming Cardinals game, followed by a lunch-time Transportation Pop-Up in the Cortex Innovation Community with food trucks and information from regional transportation partners. Metro Transit riders heading home or traveling to Blues and Cardinals games in downtown St. Louis that evening will be able to enjoy live music at the North Hanley and Emerson Park Transit Centers, and the St. Louis Blues will host a car-free, pre-game celebration at the Civic Center Transit Center with Blues mascot Louie, the Blues Crew and a Metro Arts in Transit bus painting.<\/p>\n

Car-free transportation options have been shown to provide numerous benefits for communities, including:<\/p>\n