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Health and Human Services Agency recommending the Board approve and authorize the Chair to sign a Proclamation recognizing October 2019 as “Car-Lite Month” in the County of El Dorado, encouraging alternate forms of transporation when possible to reduce carbon emissions while raising awareness of health-promoting forms of transportation.
FUNDING: N/A
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DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND:
“Car-Lite” or “Car-Free” is an annual tradition of reducing the use of automobiles for a specific time period that began in Europe in 1995. Awareness of these car-free days spread and, in each year since 2000, a date in September has been proclaimed annually as World Car-Free Day and is currently celebrated in over 1,500 cities and 40 countries.
Because the rural nature of El Dorado County makes it difficult for many residents to avoid car travel entirely, even for a single day, we established the month-long ‘Car-Lite’ campaign with the idea that everyone can reduce car travel at least a little bit. This El Dorado County campaign covers a full month to offer repeated prompts about the opportunities to reduce car-travel and to encourage some use of alternate forms of transportation when possible, such as walking and biking.
The Car-Lite campaign coincides with National Walk to School Day, an annual event that will take place on Wednesday, October 2, 2019. It continues the theme of reducing carbon emissions while encouraging health-promoting forms of transportation, such as walking and biking that have been celebrated by other events in the past like the Sacramento Area Council of Government’s Ready Set Ride regional campaign.
Purposes of Car-Lite October:
- Improving public health and quality of life through clean mobility and sustainable transport.
- Promoting alternative forms of transportation such as public transit, bicycling, and walking.
- Encouraging the use of carpools and vanpools.
- Using telework if available.
- Increasing awareness and use of transit routes and bicycle/walking paths.
- Encouraging the community to try new ways to incorporate physical activity into everyday life, such as walking and cycling.
The importance of reducing motorized vehicle use is illustrated as follows:
- In California, the transportation sector accounts for >40% of all greenhouse gas emissions.
- Nearly 40% of commuters in El Dorado County drive to work alone and commute for more than 30 minutes.
- Asthma, heart disease, obesity, and diabetes are conditions linked to how we travel.
Available alternate transit options include Park-and-Ride, El Dorado County Transportation Commission’s website to view their interactive bike map; Lake Tahoe Bicycle Coalition’s interactive online trail map and El Dorado Transit to view the transit options they provide around Lake Tahoe and into Carson Valley, Nevada.
ALTERNATIVES:
The Board could decline to approve the Proclamation naming October as “Car-Lite Month.”
PRIOR BOARD ACTION:
1) 10-09-2018, File ID 18-1461, 10/09/18 HHSA 2018 Car-lite Proclamation.
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
N/A
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board approve this item.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
There is no Net County Cost associated with this Agenda item.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
1) Clerk of the Board to obtain signature of Chair on the original Proclamation and return same to HHSA Contracts Unit, 3057 Briw Road, Suite B.
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT:
County of El Dorado Strategic Plan Goal: “Healthy Communities”: Improved Health, well-being, and self-sufficiency of El Dorado County communities, residents, and visitors.
CONTACT
Don Semon, Director