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Whangarei residents are encouraged to catch a bus during World Car Free Day on 22 September.World Car Free Day is an international event celebrated every 22 September in which people are encouraged to get around without their car - highlighting public transport, cycling and walking as alternative modes of transport.

Since the first World Car Free Day was celebrated in the year 2000, the event has grown to involve participants in more than 1000 cities in 40 countries.

This year the Northland Regional Council (NRC) is planning a campaign to encourage Whangarei residents who have not done so before to try CityLink bus services on Wednesday September 22.

The two-year-old CityLink service already carries about 24,000 passengers each month, but still has capacity for additional passengers, especially during off-peak periods.

Sharlene Selkirk, the Regional Council’s Public Passenger Transport Officer, says the Council is working in partnership with Mai FM (FM 98.0) to promote World Car Free Day.

The promotion includes a text competition that allows people to text from buses for a chance to win a free Avanti commuter bicycle.  There will also be giveaways of free bus passes, umbrellas and shopping bags.

Mrs Selkirk says people who want to know if they are on a CityLink bus route can visit www.nrc.govt.nz/bus to check.  Those wanting to know more about World Car Free Day can visit http://www.worldcarfree.net/wcfd/

She says CityLink boasts a fleet of 10 modern, environmentally-friendly buses which are air-conditioned and are easy to get on and off (the buses can ‘kneel’ to the pavement for wheelchair and pushchair access).

“As well as the obvious benefits like not having to worry about the hassle of finding a parking space, on a bus you can also send all the texts you like, talk on the phone or read the paper while you travel!”