The Active Transportation Alliance, an advocacy group for biking, walking and mass transit, has declared Wednesday, Sept. 22, as the second annual Chicagoland Car-free Day and is asking people to pledge to keep the 'ol Lexus leashed and get around by foot, cycle or transit.

The event is part of World Car-free Day and the alliance has partnered with Metra, Pace, the RTA and CTA You can make a pledge by clicking here. People who pledge can enjoy special offers and discounts for Active Trans membership, Argo Tea, I-Go Car Sharing, Sports Authority and State Street Pizza Company.

The alliance Web site has a list of tips to help people plan a day without using a car. FInd them by clicking here. It's new director, Ron Burke, said in a press release that the day can be a jumping off point to stay car-free all year 'round. I'm not sure that is very realistic for most folks in the suburbs, but cutting down on car use is a start.

Eshewing the automobile for one day may open the eyes of people who never thought it possible to go car-free, even for a short time.

Construction work will interupt traffic on two area streets in the area this week starting Monday, Aug. 16.
On Monday, motorists in Aurora will see South Lake Street closed between Jericho Road and Ridgeway Avenue for three to four weeks for railroad track repair work at the underpass. The detour will use parts of Orchard Road in Aurora and Montgomery with traffic being routed to Orchard Road from Priaire Street to Jericho Road. Trucks will be detoured using Orchard Road from Route 30 to Galena Boulevard.
In West Dundee westbound Route 72 (Main Street/Higgins Road) between Seventh Street and Route 31 (Eighth Street) will be reduced to one lane from about 7 p.m. Monday to about 8 a.m. Friday due to a water main break. Commuters are urged to find alternative routes
You've been warned.

Remember that old jingle to promote seatbelt use, "Buckle up for safety, buckle up!"

Well, it seems more and more of us are taking that advice to heart, according to state transportation officials. The Illinois Department of Transportation reports the number of motorists and front seat passengers who wear seatbelts has reached almost 93 percent.

What does that mean? Well, it probably means fewer of us are being killed in crashes on Illinois roads. Overall number of fatalities on Illinois roads is down by 16.8 percent on a provisional basis for the first six months of 2010; from 434 in 2009, to 361 in 2010, according to IDOT.

The 93 percent seatbelt compliance is pretty good, especially considering how many people used seatbelts before it became mandatory in 2004. According to IDOT slightly more than 76 percent used seatbelts.

Seatbelt use figures have been creeping up incrementaly ever since. And with it, the numbers of fatalities as also dropped. There are a number of factors for that, of course, like fewer miles driven, tougher DUI laws, etc. But seatbelt use must surely be considered when making that life-saving calculation.