October Car-Free Month

Activities include free bike tune-ups, group bike ride, Car-Free Challenge

Faculty, staff and students commuting to all WUSTL campuses are encouraged to leave their sedans, SUVs and minivans in the garage and go “car-free” for the month of October as part of the university’s Car-Free Month.


Car-Free Month activities include free bicycle tune-ups, a group bike ride to the Tower Grove Farmers’ Market, a Car-Free Challenge, and demonstrations of how to use the newly installed Fixit bicycle tune-up stations on the Danforth and Medical campuses.

The October Car-Free Challenge offers teams of individuals a chance to try alternative means of transportation, track their progress in calories-burned and CO2-saved, and benchmark against other teams. Participants have until Friday, Oct. 12, to sign up.

All participants receive a free T-shirt, and, at the end of the challenge, alternative transportation-themed trophies will be given to celebrate teams’ efforts.

WUSTL community members can sign up in teams of at least five people or sign up as individuals and be placed on a team. The challenge is sponsored by the Office of Sustainability, Parking & Transportation Services, and the WUSM Sustainability Action Team.

“Washington University’s inaugural Car-Free Month in April was a huge success, with over 500 WUSTL faculty, staff and student participants. We are excited to expand our efforts this fall, providing additional resources and encouragement for individuals interested in kicking the car habit,” says Phil Valko, director of sustainability.

“Each gallon of gas we burn releases approximately 20 pounds of CO2 into the atmosphere,” Valko says. “With rising gas prices, rising sea levels and increasing traffic congestion, going car-free is a challenge that more and more individuals are interested in taking on.”

Participating in the challenge means shifting one’s commute, even if only for a trial day, or continuing to commute via alternative transportation as part of a team that provides encouragement and support.

To be eligible for the challenge, participants must live off-campus.

Examples of alternative transportation include Metro transit, bicycling, walking and car-pooling. Park-and-ride commuting (driving to a local Metro station and riding transit the rest of the way) also is eligible.

During the competition, participants are asked to log all trips to and from their primary WUSTL campus at shiftyourcommute.com.
Trophies will be given in four categories:

  • Consistent & Committed: The team with the highest percent of car-free trips;
  • CO2 Destroyer: The team with the greatest total number of car-free miles;
  • The Bowie (“Ch-ch-ch-changes”): The team with the greatest shift in commute; and
  • Largest team.

To learn more about the Car-Free Challenge and to sign up, visit tinyurl.com/CarFreeChallenge.

During October, the Office of Sustainability also will host events promoting bicycling as a mode of sustainable transportation.

Saturday, Oct. 13

Tower Grove Farmer’s Market Bike Ride

Join us for a lovely fall bike ride from the WUSTL campus to the Tower Grove Farmer’s Market. We’ll be back by 1 p.m. RSVP to theburningkumquat@gmail.com.

Tuesday, Oct. 16

FIXIT Demonstration, Sam Fox School, noon-1 p.m.

Does your bike need some adjusting? The Fixit includes all the tools needed to perform basic bike repair. Four brand-new Fixits have been installed on the Danforth Campus. The Fixit stations include a pump, repair tools, and a place to hang your bike while you work on it. Four stations are installed on the Danforth Campus: northeast of the Danforth University Center, north of the library, west of the Kemper Art Museum, and on the South 40 along Shepley Drive. Two stations will be installed on the Medical Campus at the CSRB and Olin Dorm bike corral.

Wednesday, Oct. 17

FIXIT Demonstration, WUSM (CSRB Bike Racks), noon-1 p.m.

Does your bike need some adjusting? The Fixit includes all the tools needed to perform basic bike repair.

Thursday, Oct. 18

FIXIT Demonstration, behind Olin Library, noon-1 p.m.

Does your bike need some adjusting? The Fixit includes all the tools needed to perform basic bike repair.

Tuesday, Oct. 23

Fall Bike Tune-Up, North Courtyard of Danforth University Center, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

Big Shark Bicycle Co. will provide free quick tune-ups for students, faculty and staff on campus. The Office of Sustainability also will be on hand to sign up individuals for the Car-Free Challenge.

Wednesday, Oct. 24

Fall Bike Tune-Up, WUSM CSRB/BJCIH Hope Plaza, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.

Big Shark Bicycle Co. will provide free quick tune-ups for students, faculty and staff on campus. The Office of Sustainability also will be on hand to sign up individuals for the Car-Free Challenge.

Thursday, Oct. 25

Fall Bike Tune-Up, WUSM CSRB/BJCIH Hope Plaza, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.

Big Shark Bicycle Co. will provide free quick tune-ups for students, faculty and staff on campus. The Office of Sustainability also will be on hand to sign up individuals for the Car-Free Challenge.

Monday, Oct. 29

Car-Free Challenge Happy Hour, Goldfarb Commons, 5:30-6:30 p.m.

The Office of Sustainability will celebrate those who participated in the Car-Free Challenge and award trophies to teams in four different categories. Light snacks will be provided.

For more information about the Car-Free Challenge or any WUSTL alternative transportation activities, email the Office of Sustainability at carfreechallenge@wustl.edu.