Thursday, September 22 is Car-Free Day, a day to celebrate sustainable transportation. People around the world are encouraged to find other ways to get around than by driving – such as walking, riding bikes, using public transportation and carpooling – to ease traffic congestion, reduce fuel demands and promote greener modes of transportation.

Car-Free Day is celebrated in more than 1,500 cities worldwide, and many cities host special events and prize giveaways to encourage more drivers to go a day without starting their engines. Pledging to avoid driving is free, and even people who don't regularly use vehicles are welcome to join the festivities. Those who pledge are automatically entered into raffles to win prizes, whether people are drivers or if they already use public transportation or walk to get from place to place.

In the Washington, D.C. area, more than 10,000 people have already pledged to use alternate means of getting around on Thursday, according to The Washington Post. Car-Free Day aligns nicely with Try Transit Week in Virginia, which has been held for the past four years to encourage Virginians to use public transportation.

Drivers who pledge to keeps their cars off the road on Thursday can use their vehicles' downtime to perform basic inspections to see if they need any repairs, maintenance or fluid changes. If this is the case, an extended car warranty can help cover the costs.