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Recent Publications and Web Articles
The project and website have received publicity in more than 75 newspapers around the country, including the New York Times, San Francisco Chronicle, Ventura Star, Los Angeles Times, San Jose Mercury News, the Oakland Tribune, the Seattle Times, and others. It has also been featured in television stories, travel publications, and on travel websites. We've received comments about the project, both on survey cards and unsolicited emails and postcards. Here's a sample of what people are saying.
NBCLA blog - Janaury 13, 2012
Santa Barbara Car Free Discounts See Blog
BIKE NOW: Santa Barbara is serious about its commitment to car-free discounts and activities. While some places might try out one or two deals during the more tourist-friendly months, the American Riviera keeps up an annual program where visitors can find money-saving specials at some 50 local businesses, including about two dozen hotels. Serious, right? The people behind the initiative are also serious about making it as straightforward as possible. There isn't a lot of rigmarole or hoop-jumping to get your deals...
Lompoc Record - January 13, 2012
South on 101: SB's Paseos See Article
Alleyways (paseos) wind through Santa Barbara, offering scenic back routes, often sprinkled with fountains and statuary. Santa Barbara Car Free has a fun and easy self-guided Paseo Tour - download the map from www.santabarbaracarfree.org. Here are some annotated highlights...
Car-Free Los Angelese & Southern California (book) - November 2011
Excerpt from Santa Barbara Chapter - also see description at Wilderness Press (Publisher)
Santa Barbara Car Free describes itself as a sustainable tourism guide. Through its website, www.santabarbaracarfree.org, you can register and get a 20% discount on your Amtrak ticket to Santa Barbara. The website also offers a Carbon Footprint Certificate that you can present for discounts at many area hotels and motels. The overall mission is clear: 'to promote cleaner air and a healthier planet.
Greenxc - October 23, 2011
Discover Santa Barbara Car Free - See Article
We just learned some exciting news about Santa Barbara: they have a car-free program! It’s fun, it’s green, and you’ll be rewarded with discounts and special offers!... Founded in 1998 by the Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District, Santa Barbara Car Free has more than 100 partners −working together to promote car free travel for cleaner air and a healthier planet. The project has been a model for other areas developing car free and sustainable tourism initiatives
Rebels by Bus - October 18,2011
Car Free Santa Barbara - See Article
Santa Barbara is a lovely Mediterranean style (think red tile roofs and stucco) style town 90 miles north of Los Angeles. “Santa Barbara car-free” (SBCF) (www.santabarbaracarfree.org) encourages visitors to walk and/or use public transportation to explore the city. Being a rebel by bus, that’s just what I did!
TrainWeb.org - August, 2011
A "Car Free" Week Along the Central Coast of California See Article
Our Accommodations in Santa Barbara, 2 blocks from the Amtrak Station and 2 blocks from the beach [Car Free partner Beach House Inn]...perfect location for a Car Free vacation. The Downtown Electric Shuttle is directly across State Street from the Amtrak Depot. I took this photo from the Shuttle Stop. The Downtown Electric Shuttle is a great non-polluting way to get up and down State Street for only 25 cents a ride!
Steel Wheels - publication of the Rail Passenger Association of California and Nevada - July-August 2011
Santa Barbara Car Free: Rewarding Train Travel Works!
In 1998, we founded the Santa Barbara Car Free Project at the Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District to reduce pollution from visitors' cars by encouraging car free travel to and around Santa Barbara... From the beginning, our partnership with Amtrak has been a cornerstone of the project. Brian Hart, Amtrak Director, Field Marketing-Southwest, estimates that the Santa Barbara Car Free Project has generated more than $750,000 in revenue for Amtrak over the years.
Noozhawk
Fallout from West L.A.‘s Carmageddon Expected to Reach Santa Barbara - July 15, 2011 (updated from July 11) See Article
Travelers trying to get to San Diego from Santa Barbara or Ventura, or vice versa, are being encouraged to use Amtrak’s Pacific Surfliner as an alternative.
The Santa Barbara Car Free Project offers a 20 percent discount on Amtrak all year for passengers traveling to or from any station in Santa Barbara County.
LA Times Travel Online
'Carmageddon': Try the train to Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo - July 13, 2011 - See Article
...But it could be a good time to skip the potential crush and indulge in an impromptu, car-free summer getaway. Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo reward Amtrak travelers with 20% off their traiin tickets, plus discounts at restaurants, hotels and activities...
To test-book an escape from Carmageddon, I found a round-trip Amtrak ticket to Santa Barbara on Saturday morning and returning midday Monday for $46.40 -- saving $11.60 off the usual fare.
If you don't make it out of town this weekend, you can still get the discounts, which are good through the end of the year.
RundownLA
Free from the 405 - Five ways to escape Carmageddon- July 12, 2011 - See Article
Get Out: Make Tracks to Santa Barbara
Make your own escape from LA by heading north aboard the Amtrak Pacific
Surfliner with a 20% train discount, courtesy Santa Barbara Car Free.
Once there, take advantage of Hotel Oceana's own 405-inspired markdowns,
including room discount, $4.05 poolside specials, and cocktail reception
for drivers who've survived "Carmageddon." Yep, that means you.
Note from SB Car Free - see more info on this website: train discount and Hotel Oceana special.
NBCLA
Car-Free Train Discount Bests Carmageddon - July 8, 2011 See Article
FREE DAYS: Businesses galore, both in Los Angeles and around Southern California, are stepping up to the Carmageddon plate. The drink discounts and shopping deals are plentiful, but people want to know about travel ideas and get-around discounts, seeing as how the July 16-17 closure is happening plunk in the middle of the vacation-iest time of year. Those are coming in as well, and one we're liking isn't even specifically related to that weekend. It's the Amtrak discount that Santa Barbara Car Free Amtrak offer.
Hotel Chatter
When Carmeggedon Hits Los Angeles, You Best Hunker Down in Your Hotel - July 6, 2011 - See Article
Hotel Oceana Santa Barbara is encouraging people to get the heck out of L.A. and avoid the massive traffic jams altogether. As part of its Escape the 405 package, you'll get 15 percent off of your stay, $4.05 cocktails and food all weekend long at the poolside bar and a complimentary cocktail reception on Friday night for all 405 escapees. The deal is good on stays from July 14 to 17.
And if you think road-tripping it to Santa Barbara is too much of a headache, ditch your car and hop on the Amtrak Pacific Surfliner and get 20 percent off of your train ticket with the Santa Barbara Car Free discount. It sounds like a heavenly alternative to Carmeggedon.
Santa Barbara Earth Day Festival Features Capoeira, Jugglers, Alpacas and SOL Food Kitchen - June 21, 2011, See article
The first stop on my three day, eco-friendly tour of Santa Barbara started on April 17 and led straight up State Street, by bike of course, to attend the inaugural Santa Barbara Earth Day Festival at Alameda Park. The holiday has special significance in town, since Earth Day didn’t even exist before a massive oil spill hit Santa Barbara beaches in 1969. That catastrophe had a disastrous impact on the local environment, but it did foment change and drew the attention of Senator Gaylord Nelson, who spearheaded the bill that established Earth Day. 42 years later, Santa Barbara’s Community Environmental Council presented a day of programming that spanned three city blocks and even managed to instill the event with culinary energy.
My memorable three-hour visit started with a stop at the complimentary bike valet station, which parked hundreds of bikes throughout the course of the day...
Planet Green
Walrus Pee/Car -Free Father/Daughter Getaway - June 16, 2011 - See article
There’s the Amtrak to get there, and to get around you have your choice of Pedi-Cabs, easy access bike rentals (plus amazing bike maps), MTD Electric Shuttle making its rounds on a regular basis, and of course, walking which is not just easy but beautiful (and great exercise). Plus, if you declare yourself to be “car-free” many of the transportation companies, cabs, and even hotels give you deep discounts- so you’re saving money to boot!
My dad and I took the Amtrak from the overwhelmingly bustling downtown Los Angeles Union Station to the idyllically quaint downtown Santa Barbara station on State Street, just 2 blocks from the ocean. But our vacation didn’t start there. It started about halfway between LA and Santa Barbara as we were rolling along the track, the ocean to our left and mountains to our right- a perfect stretch of calm.
805 Living
Hot Tip - May 2011
Santa Barbara’s “Car Free” promotion is back through the end of the year, offering discounts at tourist attractions and 25 hotels in the city when you travel by Amtrak, city bus, or bicycle. (santabarbaracarfree.org)
Travel Video News
GREEN CALIFORNIA: Golden State’s Tourism Industry Putting its Best Carbon Footprint Forward - May 26, 2011 - See article
The Santa Barbara Car Free Project presents car-free alternatives for travel to and from Santa Barbara, with its Web site offering maps and walking tour itineraries, Amtrak discounts, car-free resources and special car-free vacation packages.
Desert Sun
Enjoy the eco-sites in Santa Barbara - May 7, 2011 See article
Visitors to Santa Barbara, known affectionately as the “American Riviera,” arrive year-round to enjoy its virtues of mission history, Pacific Ocean splendor and idyllic Mediterranean weather.
It is the Central Coast's utopia of nearby wineries, haute cuisine and celebrity homesteads, from Oprah to Jeff Bridges.
But, it is also getting recognition as an “ecotopia” — a destination that lets you put the car aside for your entire stay and celebrate the greenness that prevails from city bistros to the vines that surround.
Article in LA Parent magazine
Calm for Mom - Gentle Outings to Soothe the Soul - May 2011.
Car-Free Santa Barbara
Hop aboard Amtrak and revel in traveling green. Showing your Amtrak
ticket also earns you discounts at participating hotels, restaurants and
activities. Or, drive your car to SB, then walk, bike or ride a shuttle
around town. The 25-cent MTD Waterfront/Downtown electric shuttle is a
fun way to get around... Download maps and coupons at
www.SantaBarbaraCarFree.org.
Gardens to Tables.com
Good Land Organics + RND Vodka = Perfect Spring Cocktails - May 4, 2011. See article
Two Santa Barbara institutions -- Good Land Organics and RND Vodka -- came together recently to create cocktails for a reception that was part of the city’s month-long Ecotopia celebration, and included many of the partners of Santa Barbara Car Free program, which offers discounts to those who make any part of their trip to the city sans car.
Farewell Travels.com
Fresh Picks and Catches: Santa Barbara - May 3, 2011. See article.
Santa Barbara’s eco-friendliness goes beyond the market as well. The Santa Barbara Car Free program offers discounts on hotels, restaurants and activities such as Sustainable Vine Wine Tours of the nearby Santa Ynez Valley for those who promise to make at least part of their trip car-free -- which is easy as the city is pedestrian- and bike-friendly plus electric shuttles travel throughout the downtown and along the beach and harbor for just $.25/ride.
Gardens to Tables.com
Touring the Santa Ynez Valley with Sustainable Vine Wine Tours - April 28,2011 See article.
As a Santa Barbara Car Free partner, Sustainable Vine offers a $10 discount to those who show they traveled at least part of their trip car-free (easy to do with bikes and electric shuttles available throughout downtown Santa Barbara and Amtrak stopping right in the middle of town). Check the Santa Barbara Care Free website for more details.
Announcement by Walk Friendly Communities
Santa Barbara Designated a Gold
Level Community by Walk Friendly Communities - April 26, 2011
See
announcement.
Santa Barbara is designated as a Gold-level community due to strong connectivity policies, a model Safe Routes to School program, and its unique pedestrian-oriented "paseos". Highlights of Santa Barbara's application include:
...SantaBarbaraCarFree is a project of the Santa Barbara Air Pollution Control District with support from the City of Santa Barbara, Amtrak California, and other partners. It encourages car-free travel through discounts and by providing information on walkable destinations like the Farmers Markets, parks, trails, and bus and shuttle services.
Santa Barbara News-Press
S.B. tourism ready to go green - April 25, 2011
Experiencing the "greener"/sustainable tourism side of Santa Barbara means being as energy-efficient as possible, including taking a vacation from your car. "It's easy to be green and car free," declared Mary Byrd, manager of the Santa Barbara Car Free Project, a local organization that touts the eco-friendly benefits of traveling to the area without filling a gas tank. The Car Free program is one of several factors that make Santa Barbara a model for the growing green travel industry, said Kathy Janega-Dykes, CEO of the Santa Barbara Conference and Visitors Bureau and Film Commission.
Four Car-Free Ways to Explore Santa Barbara, CA - April 22, 2011 See article.
For the average traveler, the city is a goldmine of car-free travel options: an Amtrak station in town; MTD electric shuttles, the largest fleet in North America; miles of bike lanes threading the city, shoreline and foothills; adventure guides leading kayaking, bike and hiking tours; wine tours via foot, bike and biodiesel van; and dozens of guided and self-guided walks around the city.
Dose of Vitamin P: Wine Cask Pork Belly - April 20, 2011 See article.
The Santa Barbara Conference & Visitors Bureau recently hosted me on a car-free media trip that spotlighted some of the area’s more compelling local, organic and sustainable eating and drinking options.
Health Conscious Travel.com
Spring Break Fun in Sunny Santa Barbara - April 1, 2011 - See article.
There's another reason why Santa Barbara's perfect for active travelers: The city has made a major commitment to going car-free, with bike lanes all over town and a free shuttle between the beach and downtown that lets you bring bikes onboard. A website, Car-Free Santa Barbara, makes it easy to access all transportation options and figure out how to get wherever you need to go. So you can park your car at your hotel and not use it again the entire time you're here. Given how car-dependent most of California is, this really sets Santa Barbara apart.
Fun with the Family Southern California, 8th edition by Laura Kath & Pamela Price (Globe Pequot Press, March 2011)
Take a Vacation from Your Car!
It’s easy to do by accessing www.santabarbaracarfree.org, calling (805) 696-1100, or writing Santa Barbara Car Free Project, Box 60436, Santa Barbara 93160. Discover free walking tours, bike maps, bus routes, AMTRAK schedules, maps, and vacation packages/hotel discounts. Santa Barbara is extremely pedestrian- and family-friendly, especially the downtown State Street corridor that leads to the beach--with benches, outdoor dining, and plenty of greenery. When you get tired of walking, hop aboard the nifty25-cent electric shuttle buses (operated by the Metropolitan Transit District [MTD]; www.sbmtd.gov). Recipient of the EPA’s National Clean Air Award of Excellence in 2009, Santa Barbara Car Free Project is a multiple award-winning ecotourism partnership sponsored by the County Air Pollution Control District, committed to alternative transportation for cleaner air and a healthier planet.
Blog on examiner.com
Santa Barbara Going Green with Santa Barbara Car Free - February 27, 2011 - See blog.
Looking to travel green from Los Angeles? Santa Barbara Car Free Offer has some “cool car free discounts”. Now through December 31, 2011, the Santa Barbara Car Free Project is encouraging visitors to travel green and save up to 50% at more than 50 hotels, activities and restaurants.
With the price of gasoline rising, this is a fantastic way to enjoy a weekend getaway to Santa Barbara without costing an arm and a leg. You can also stay at some of your favorite hotels or charming Bed and Breakfasts...
Day Trips from Los Angeles, 1st edition by Laura Kath and Pamela Price (Globe Pequot Press, December 2010)
Santa Barbara Car-Free: take a vacation from the gas pump!
Santa Barbara is so easy to visit from Los Angeles without your car—in fact, we highly recommend the experience! Founded in 1998, the Santa Barbara Car Free Project is an award-winning ecotourism partnership sponsored by the Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District, (most recently, recipient of the 2009 EPA National Clean Air Excellence Award) committed to alternative transportation for cleaner air and a healthier planet. Check out www.santabarbaracarfree.org for comprehensive information about enjoying the beauty of this area and reducing your carbon footprint. You can download maps and get incredible deals on 40+ forty-plus hotels, activities, and attractions just for making a car- free pledge. Discover free walking tours, bike maps, bus routes, Amtrak train schedules, maps, and vacation packages/hotel discounts. Eleven Amtrak trains daily leave Los Angeles Union Station (www.amtrak.com) including the Pacific Surfliner and the Coast Starlight for Santa Barbara. Tracks run right along the ocean in parts, and Santa Barbara’s historic train station is at 209 State St., only 2two blocks from the beach. When you get tired of walking, hop aboard the nifty electric shuttle buses (operated by the Metropolitan Transit District [MTD]; (www.sbmtd.gov) or take a pedi-cab or hybrid taxi, or rent a bicycle or surrey cycle! To receive info by mail, call (805) 696-1100 or write, P.O.Box Box 60436, Santa Barbara, CA 93160. Viva Car Free-dom!
California Travel & Tourism Commission Sustainable Tourism Marketing Handbook
Santa Barbara Car Free (October 2010) See Handbook.
Santa Barbara Car Free is an example of an organization that is increasing awareness of sustainable transportation options. Santa Barbara Car Free offers several transportation alternatives for visitors to the Santa Barbara area, along with maps and resources for trip planning. Santa Barbara Car Free is effectively using strategic partnerships to increase awareness of their organization and the success of their program. For example, a partnership with Amtrak offers discounts for tourists to get to the destination. Similarly, Santa Barbara Car Free partners with various tourism businesses in Santa Barbara to offer additional discounts for their customers. These discount programs are incentives and business for the partnership organizations.
NBC Los Angeles Blog
Santa Barbara Car Free Discounts - February 7, 2011 - See blog
WORTH THE CYCLE: If you're pedaling through Santa Barbara, or arriving by Amtrak, or scooting around via your MTD bus pass, best eye the rather lengthy list of deals and discounts that Santa Barbara Car Free has organized...
Sightline Daily
A Vacation from My Car (and Kid) - January 19, 2011 - See article
Santa Barbara Car Free, which was established in 1998 and has won numerous awards, has convinced dozens of hotels, restaurants and tour operators to offer serious discounts to car-free travelers who arrive via Amtrak, bus or bicycle...
Santa Barbara News Press
Take a Bow (July 9, 2010)
The Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District honored its partners in the Santa Barbara Car Free project June 17 at its monthly board meeting... Karen Kukurin, deputy director and community liaison with Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's office, read a letter from the governor lauding project participants for their 'exemplary accomplishments.' "Your outstanding efforts help cement California as a world leader in going green," it read. The District's board also thanked Santa Barbara Car Free partners with a resolution.
See photo of partners at the reception that appeared with the article on our photo gallery page.
Window Seat Travel Blog: Travelocity's Alison Presley blogs on Car Free here.
Santa Barbara Car Free: One California City Gets Serious about Carbon (June 25, 2010)
Often in the U.S. when we think about "car-free destinations," we think of big cities like New York City, Boston, and San Francisco. But what should you do if you want to go car-free and get away from the hubbub of urban life? I now have an answer for you: visit Santa Barbara.
See full blog here.
Los Angeles Times Travel Blog
Santa Barbara Car Free offers 20% off Amtrak travel, and lots more (January 12, 2010)
Santa Barbara Car Free, an eco-tourism project by the Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District, has been around for some time. But with new elements added every year, its green appeal —both to your wallet and the environment —is as strong as ever.
The 2010 savings program, with the slogan “Take the car out of your carbon footprint,” encourages visitors to walk, bike, use the city’s electric shuttle and hop aboard the train. And, as in previous years, they can take advantage of 20% off on Amtrak rail travel to and from Santa Barbara County.
See article on LA Times website.
TrainWeb.com
What's New with Santa Barbara Car Free (November 2009)
"As it turns out, the Santa Barbara Car Free program is bigger, and greener than it was five years ago. And, other California cities have used the Santa Barbara Car Free model to start their own programs. Many of the original Santa Barbara businesses are still members, plus many new ones have joined. There is now a 20% discount on Amtrak Surfliner tickets to Santa Barbara County cities, and many discounts in town for just showing your train ticket."
See full story on the TrainWeb site.
California Travel & Tourism Commission Sustainable Tourism Handbook
Making it Happen - Cities and counties embracing the big picture of sustainability (October 2009) See Handbook.
The Santa Barbara Car Free Project is a cooperative partnership led by the Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District. Travelers arriving to Santa Barbara car-free can save up to 50% at 22 hotels and 20 activities and restaurants. www.SantaBarbaraCarFree.org.
Group Travel Planet Magazine
Two-Wheeling it (July 2009)
"Santa Barbara's Car Free initiative encourages
visitors to travel in a number of different ways, one of which is
biking. Bike maps, delivery and pickup of bikes to your hotel, rental
company information, and clubs and advocacy group information are all
available at santabarbaracarfree.org."
Westways - Southern California AAA Magazine
No Parking
Car-free−and cool−in Santa Barbara
(June 2009)
"Health-conscious joggers and cyclists traverse town on the city's endless bike paths, but the Santa Barbara Car Free project, a government-run clean-air campaign, makes it simple to navigate the area without ever strapping on a seat belt−or a knee brace. The project partners with dozens of area businesses, including Amtrak. Our friends Don and Randi were thrilled to learn that by registering on the project's website, they got 20 percent off their train tickets. Then, by flashing tickets around town, they got more discounts at hotels and restaurants."
2nd Green Revolution.com
American Cities Hope to Entice Pedestrians with Carless Districts (June 2009)
"...In addition, smaller cities are promoting their pedestrian friendly qualities. Santa Barbara, California (roughly two hours north of Los Angeles) presents itself as a carless get-away destination. Several businesses have begun offering reduced rates on hotel stays for those travelers that present their train ticket at check-in. The website SantaBarbaraCarless.org contains a wealth of car travel alternatives to and from as well as within the city. “Santa Barbara Car Free is a cooperative partnership initiated and led by the Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District since 1998 for cleaner air and a healthier planet. We have more than 100 business and community partners - all encouraging car free transportation to, and around, Santa Barbara.” With a temperate climate, biking is an excellent year round option in Santa Barbara. For specific information on biking in the city, refer to the biking section of Santa Barbara’s Car Free site.
These two examples show that pedestrians, bike riders, and non-vehicular traffic can coexist and even transform a city’s landscape. Reduced ground level ozone and airborne particulate matter from decreased motorized traffic enhances community health. In addition, carless districts encourage increased exercise, which also positively impacts health. From the largest American city to one with a population hovering around 100,000 people, all cities would do well to increase carless options like New York and Santa Barbara."
Travel + Leisure.com
Hot Deals | Weekly travel bargains Santa Barbara: Car-free deals at area hotels and businesses (June, 2009, through present)
"Why Go: Santa Barbara wants to promote itself as a car-free destination so, for the rest of the year, area hotels are offering discounts to guests who show an Amtrak ticket at check-in. The deals range from upgrades to discounts, to extras like a bottle of sparkling wine or breakfast or bikes to explore the city. Participating hotels range from small B&Bs off the beach, to romantic inns with fireplaces, to chain hotels. Other local businesses are jumping onboard with discounted kayaking, whale-watching trips, restaurant meals, museum entrance fees, and more...For more information or to book, please visit Santa Barbara Car Free. To register for Amtrak discounts, please visit Santa Barbara."
Smartertravel.com/USAToday online
Escapes Under $500: Budget-friendly beach getaways (May, 2009)
Santa Barbara, California
"Who needs a car at the beach? Especially in Santa Barbara, where you can get discounts and perks for leaving your wheels behind and walking, biking, or even taking the train instead of driving. In an attempt to be more eco-friendly, the city has initiated a Car Free promotion that includes a host of savings on hotels and activities when you take the train, a 20% discount on Amtrak tickets, and special packages even if you do arrive by car."
New York Times
The No-Car City (Letter in the New York Times, November 30, 2008)
"Santa Barbara is the rare small American city that is easy and pleasant to visit without a car. In fact, Santa Barbara is the even rarer city that encourages and rewards visitors without a car..."
Los Angeles Times
Travel Blog Roundup of Deals (LA Times Travel Blog, December 16, 2008)
"Under the Santa Barbara Car Free Project, visitors who arrive by Amtrak can tap discounts up to 50% at dozens of hotels, restaurant and activities in the coastal county and also get 20% off their Pacific Surfliner or San Joaquins fares. Yes, I know gas prices have dropped to 2004 levels. But I find Amtrak a hassle-free way to get to Santa Barbara. It drops you right next to hopping State Street."
Eco-Travel Options are Abundant LA Times, June 30, 2008
"Santa Barbara's air pollution district has a little challenge for you: Leave the car at home. The district, in cooperation with the city's tourism office, is trying to make it easier to travel green. Hop on an Amtrak train and you could qualify for cheap hotel rates. And, once you're in town, there are ferries, a 25-cent electric shuttle and bike rentals..."
California Weekend
Cary Awards: Best, Most Unique Places We Visited in 08 (January 2009, California Weekend web feature, and column)
"Our Most Unique Travel Adventure for 2008 was a trip to Santa Barbara without our car. It´s tough to pry the car keys from us Southern Californians but, in the interest of the environment, we gave it a try. It turns out that Santa Barbara´s Car-Free program makes it easy and offers lots of incentives that make it well worth your while to try visiting Santa Barbara by train or air. Our trip on Amtrak from San Diego went off without a hitch, and we were amazed at how much we could do without our car. For more information on car-free Santa Barbara, go to www.santabarbaracarfree.org or phone (805) 696-1100."
"American Riviera" Ideal for Car-Free Visit (June 2008, California Weekend web feature, and column)
"Got to admit it — it's tough for this Californian to give up his car for the weekend, but that's exactly what we did on a recent train getaway to Santa Barbara that proved we could do our small part to help reduce traffic and vehicle emissions and still have a great time..."
Peter Greenburg Travel
Care-Free and Car-Free Destinations (June 2008)
"Santa Barbara is taking this car-less concept very seriously. So seriously, in fact, that it has an entire promotional campaign around it. What smells like a gimmick turned out to be a useful resource that makes traveling sans car seem not only accessible, but preferable. For example, if you take the train to Santa Barbara, California, you qualify for the “car-free” discount at more than 20 hotels, some restaurants, and many activities.."
Also: Seattle Times (June 2008), Australia's "G" Magazine (May 2008), The London Paper (April 2008), Chicago Scene Magazine (March 2008), United Airlines Hemispheres Magazine (December 2007)
Awards
Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District received a national Clean Air Excellence Award for the Santa Barbara Car Free Project from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. See this page.
The Santa Barbara Car Free project received a 2004 Environmental Award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 9, and received a 2004 Marketing Excellence Award for "Best Niche Marketing: Eco-Tourism" from the California Travel and Tourism Commission. Read more background on the project here.
The Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District, lead agency for Santa Barbara Car Free, honored and thanked the project's partners for their outstanding volunteer service and contributions to the project.
Partners present for the APCD ceremony included (from left): Front row: Millie Matz--Santa Barbara Hotel Group; Olivia Rodriguez, David Damiano and Sherrie Fisher--Santa Barbara MTD: Tracy Farhad--Santa Barbara Conference & Visitors Bureau and Film Commission; Jayne Brechwald--American Lung Association of Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties, Antara Blasius--Community Environmental Council/Earth Day. Second row: Brian Hart--Amtrak; Nadine Turner--Hotel Santa Barbara; Megan Miley (project website)--Megan Miley Graphic Design; Ralph Fertig--Santa Barbara Bicycle Coalition; Lynda Lang--Carpinteria Valley Chamber of Commerce; Tim Bridwell--Fess Parker's DoubleTree Resort; Laura Kath (project promotions coordinator)--Mariah Marketing; Mary Byrd (project manager)--APCD. Top row: Nancy Johnson--Botanic Garden; Randy Reetz--Santa Barbara Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center; Lee Moldaver; Bobbie Bratz (community programs supervisor)--APCD; Lin Graf--Carpinteria Valley Chamber of Commerce.