CAR-FREE MONTH!
World Car Free Day
Berkeley City Council to consider Car-Free Month Resolution:
Draft Resolution
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Kriss Worthington
Councilmember, City of Berkeley District 7
1900 Addison Street, Second Floor Berkeley, CA 94704
PHONE 510-644-6398 FAX 510-644-4822 worthington-AT-ci.berkeley.ca.us
CONSENT CALENDAR
September 19, 2000
To: Honorable Mayor and
Members of the City Council
From: Councilmember Kriss Worthington
Councilmember Dona Spring
Subject: SUPPORT PROCLAMATION FOR SEPTEMBER AS CAR-FREE MONTH AND
WAIVE FEES FOR TWO BLOCK PARTIES FOR A CELEBRATION OF CAR-FREE MONTH
RECOMMENDATION:
That the Berkeley City Council support a proclamation for September as
Car-Free Month and waive fees for two block parties on Haste and Channing
between College and Bowditch on Sunday, October 1st for a celebration of
Car-Free Month.
BACKGROUND:
Motor vehicles have a tremendous impact on our neighborhoods, quality of
life issues such as noise and safety, and our environment. During the month
of September we encourage everyone to utilize the rich diversity in
transportation alternatives in the Bay Area and celebrate this month as a
Car-Free Month to educate and support a sustainable society.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
$30.
CONTACT PERSON:
Councilmember Kriss Worthington 644-6398.
Councilmember Dona Spring 644-6266.
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HONOR SEPTEMBER AS CAR-FREE MONTH
WHEREAS, The City of Berkeley supports measures to stave off
destruction of the environment such as reducing the amount of emissions of
motor vehicle exhaust in hopes of averting further global warming-related
tragedies; and
WHEREAS, The City of Berkeley supports efforts to reduce human rights
abuses around the world, such as boycotting petroleum companies which abuse
human rights; and
WHEREAS, Many who are too poor or so principled that they do not own
automobiles are frequently excluded from jobs, services, and opportunities;
and
WHEREAS, Those who do not own automobiles are constantly required to
suffer for and subsidize automobiles; and
WHEREAS, There is a growing international movement to support
car-free living, provide car-free housing, and require motor vehicles to pay
their own way; and
WHEREAS, The City of Berkeley currently does not allow those who do
not wish to own a motor vehicle to do so without paying large subsidies for
parking lots, street repair, emergency services, traffic and parking
enforcement, pollution abatement, land subsidies and loss of housing, health
costs, traffic planning, traffic signals, special parking permit programs,
and other costs and services; and
WHEREAS, The City of Berkeley General Plan calls for reducing
automobile usage and increasing the use of alternative transportation, yet
automobile usage has increased significantly since the passage of that plan
in 1977; and
WHEREAS, The City of Berkeley wishes to improve transit service
throughout the Bay Area, yet private automobile interests presently receive
the vast amount of public dollars; and
WHEREAS, Protestors of the Underhill Parking Lot at the University
of Berkeley, California have brought tremendous attention to the
university's plan of providing more parking spaces over the students' needs
of additional, affordable student housing that is close to campus; and
WHEREAS, September is the "back-to-school" month, a time when
bicycle and pedestrian injuries typically increase, exemplifying the need to
incorporate bicycle and pedestrian education into the school system
including UC Berkeley's orientation; and
WHEREAS, September is the month of the anniversary of the first
person killed by automobile in North America, H.H. Bliss, who was struck
down by an electric taxicab as he helped a woman step down from a trolley in
New York City on September 13, 1899; and
WHEREAS, Since that day over 5 million U.S. citizens have been
killed by automobile, more than four times the number killed by all this
country's wars, and millions have been disabled by automobile collisions;
and
WHEREAS, Numerous local groups including the Berkeley Gray
Panthers, BayPeds, the Bus Rider's Union, Ecocity Builders, the Bicycle
Civil Liberties Union, the HUB: Center for Appropriate Transport, and the
Bicycle-Friendly Berkeley Coalition support the concept of September being a
Car-Free Month; and
WHEREAS, The third Thursday in September has been declared the
World Car-Free Day (September 21st, 2000).
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Berkeley City Council recognizes
September as "Car-Free Month", a month to honor, celebrate and support those
who live without automobiles, and to renew the commitment to basic freedoms
such as justice, equality, equity, health, safety and access for all people,
and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City Council of the City of Berkeley hereby
proclaims the month of September as
Car-Free Month.
in the City of Berkeley and urges all
citizens of our City to reflect now and throughout the year on ways all of
us can live and work together with a commitment to mutual respect and
understanding.
_____________________________ _____________________________
_____________________________
Mayor Shirley Dean Vice Mayor Maudelle Shirek Councilmember Linda
Maio
_____________________________ _____________________________
_____________________________
Councilmember Margaret Breland Councilmember Dona Spring
Councilmember Diane Woolley
_____________________________ _____________________________
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Councilmember Betty Olds Councilmember Kriss Worthington
Councilmember Polly Armstrong
Back to the Bicycle Civil Liberties Union.
Back to the Bike the Bridge! Coalition.
