Hop on the Bus, Gus: JMU Students Organize "No Drive Day"

Take the bus, ride a bike or put on those walking shoes. That's what student organizers of the first ever "No Drive Day" at James Madison University are encouraging students, faculty and staff to do on Wednesday, April 2. 

JMU's Clean Energy Coalition has teamed with the university administration, Harrisonburg Department of Public Transportation and local businesses in an effort to raise awareness of the effects of excessive and often unnecessary automobile use. Organizers say excessive driving can have a negative impact on air quality, human health and productivity and transportation infrastructure. 

Several incentives will be offered throughout the day for "No Drive Day" participants. Those who choose to ride the bus to campus will receive one of 5,000 free T-shirts, while cyclists and pedestrians will enjoy free refreshments. Participants will also be eligible for a raffle featuring biking gear, gift cards to local businesses and to the JMU Bookstore. 

Additionally, special parking restrictions will be in place for parking lots C-10 (across from the new CISAT Library) and C-4 (Hillside). A number of "preferred" parking spaces in these lots will be designated as carpool-only spaces between 7:30 a.m. and noon. To be eligible to park in these spaces, vehicles must have at least two passengers in addition to the appropriate university-issued parking permit. 

In an effort to track the success of the event, HDPT and the university will collect data to evaluate the impact that the days decrease in traffic will have on roadways, traffic patterns and parking availability. 

For more information about "No Drive Day," visit http://www.jmugreenteam.com. 

JMU Public Affairs contact: Bill Wyatt, 540-568-3621 or wyattwj@jmu.edu