Group urges people to give up their cars
Strive Not to Drive event's focus turns to bicycles this year
ASHEVILLE - Bruce Steinfurth sold his car a month ago and now travels around town solely on his bicycle.
"I find it easier than I expected," said Steinfurth, who added his decision was prompted by environmental concerns, getting fed up with traffic and the desire to put more money into his bicycle clothing company, Pisgah Works. "People are definitely like 'What do you do when you need a car?' and I say, 'What do I need a car for?'"
Living and working in downtown Asheville has made it easier for Steinfurth to live without a car. While many people don't have that luxury, this year's organizers of Strive Not to Drive are asking residents to see how close they can come to living car-free.
"We are asking people to pledge to get to work some way other than alone in their car," said Keith Bamberger, a spokesman with the Asheville regional office of the state division of air quality. "The goal is to have them experiment or learn about other ways to get to work."
Not only is biking or walking good for one's health, but using alternative transportation also cuts down on exhaust from cars - the biggest source of air pollution in Western North Carolina that is responsible for lung and heart problems and other respiratory issues like asthma.
"Any additional improvement in air quality is going to come down to transportation," Bamberger said. "Our air quality is improving but continued improvement is going to come down to personal behavior."
Focus on bikes
This year, the annual campaign will focus on cycling, which was the original intent of the event when it started 17 years ago, said Terri March, Healthy Buncombe coordinator.
"This year, with the passage of the bike plan and the cost of gas, there's a lot of interest and synergy around bicycle issues," she said. "It was a good year to return back to our roots."
The five-day-long event will start with the mayor, city and county officials and others in the community riding bicycles from the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce to Asheville City Hall.
City Council approved the city's first comprehensive bike plan in February. Matt Johnson, owner of bike shop BioWheels, said the move signals that council members realize Asheville needs more bike facilities.
"We are going to show them what it means to ride a bike in this town," Johnson said.
March said a lack of bike lanes or wide shoulders makes some people hesitant to jump on their bike and ride to work.
According to a 2004 survey of downtown workers, 90 percent drove alone to work while 2 percent reported that they rode their bike and 1 percent said they rode the bus.
March said the number of people opting to use alternative forms of transportation has probably increased over the past four years with high gas prices and a greater awareness about the effects of cars on the environment and health. Johnson said he is doing three times the business he was four years ago and sells about one commuter bicycle a day.
"When gas prices go up, people make behavioral choices in ways they may not have before," March said.
March said Strive Not To Drive could help people realize the advantages of alternative transportation.
"It takes planning and changing your mind-set," she said of walking, biking or even taking the bus, "but, it's one of the simplest, most basic things we can do to improve our health."
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