(QCOSTARICA) Can you imagine, just for one fleeing moment, a day in San Jose without cars. Not easy, right? But, come Thursday, September 22, it may be a reality as nine civil organizations try that Costa Rica joins for the first time, the World Car Free Day (Dia Mundial Sin Carro in Spanish).
For example, cities like Bogota, Colombia, on that day imposes fines to curb circulation of vehicles.
Andrea San Gil, of the Centre for Urban Sustainability, said the mission is to being people who travel usually by car to use public transport or other methods of non-motorized mobility, such as bicycles.
“We want people will open the mind and say, ‘Geez, is not as difficult ride public transportation,'” said San Gil.
Circulating on the roads in Costa Rica, the majority in the streets of the Central Valley, are 1.4 million vehicles. According to experts, some 15 days a year are lost in traffic congestion from Alajuela to Cartago.
Teo Mezger, head of “Moverte Por Tu Cuidad” (Moving About Your City) said the goal of a car free day is get one of out five people not to use their cars on that day.
Other groups behind the movement are: Chepecletas, GAM Cultural, Bici Bus, Dame Ride and Costa Rica Limpia, among others.
The challenge is to get public figures out of their cars on September 22, to get to their work by bus, train or bicycle.
Among those accepting the challenge are Carlos Villalta, Minister of Public Works and Transprot (MOPT); the mayor of Alajuela, Roberto Thompson; and Jean-Baptiste, the France Ambassador to Costa Rica.
President Luis Guillermo Solis was also invited to join in the challenge, however, he will be out of the country, left Sunday morning for New York City for his week long visit to the United States.
Among the corporation to accept the challenge are H.Solís, Universidad Véritas and Florex.
Are you up to the challenge? Join as at the Q to take public transportation (bus or train), a bicycle or even walk this Thursday. Send us your photos and we will publish them here or post directly to our official Facebook page.
