4th annual Long Island Car Free Day slated for Sept. 22

Almost 2,000 Long Island residents have pledged to avoid using automobiles on Sept. 22, according to organizers of the local fourth annual Car Free Day.

The international event has been held in some 1,500 cities in 40 countries for the past 15 years. It aims to protect the environment and promote fitness by getting drivers to consider alternatives, such as walking, mass transit or telecommuting.

Organizers said almost 3,000 Long Island took the pledge in 2015, saving 78,000 miles of driving and 39 tons of carbon emissions.

Events this year include a rally at Farmingdale State College and a Car Free Day summit at Suffolk County Community College.

In 2014, Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone left his car home and rode his bicycle and the bus to promote the event.

The trip from his home in Babylon to his office in Hauppauge took two hours.