The Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) is celebrating World Car Free Day by encouraging all those who typically drive personal vehicles to use public transportation next Thursday, Sept. 22nd. World Car Free Day, celebrated annually on September 22, is organized in cities across the globe with the common goal of reducing the number of cars on the streets. The RTA and Service Boards encourage riders who regularly take transit to do so on that day and those who may not to “try transit” next Thursday. The transit system in the RTA region covers approximately 3,700 square miles and provides more than two million rides each weekday in Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry and Will Counties. For more information about the safety of taking public transportation compared to driving, please see a recent report issue by the American Public Transportation Association http://www.apta.com/resources/reportsandpublications/Documents/APTA-Hidden-Traffic-Safety-Solution-Public-Transportation.pdf.