Today is World Car-Free Day, an event which is designed to draw attention to the ecological and sociological problems caused by the automobile.
A Critical Mass Bicycle Ride will take place today in downtown Morgantown. Similar rides have been organized all around the globe.
Riders will gather at the West Virginia University Mountainlair at 4:30 p.m. The ride will start at 5 p.m.
The group will ride down University Avenue to Pleasant Street, up Spruce Street to Prospect Street, and then back to the Mountainlair to pick up any stragglers. The ride will make a second loop up Spruce Street to Willey Street, down High Street and will end back at the Mountainlair.
A rally will take place after the ride. Some people will make pledges, and anyone who wants to speak will have the opportunity to do so.
The ride has been organized by the Student Sierra Coalition and the Students for Economic Justice, a member organization of the West Virginia Economic Justice Coalition.
“The idea is not to annoy or obstruct traffic, but to present alternatives to using automobiles or gasoline for transportation,” said Eli Heady, member of the West Virginia Economic Justice Coalition.
—gjs