Dozens of participants gathered on the lawn of Weaver Street Market on Wednesday night to celebrate the end of a day in which their cars never made it out on the road.

Chapel Hill and Carrboro held this celebration at the market, located at 101 E. Weaver St., to conclude Car-Free Day, an international event designed to encourage less vehicle use.

Those who showed up enjoyed free concerts and speeches from distinguished guests.

Prizes such as gym memberships were given to those who pledged to give up their cars Wednesday. A bike was also given away.

The goal of Car-Free Day is to raise awareness about alternative forms of transportation so people can find ways to use cars less.

The day also honors those who already choose walking, biking or public transportation.

N.C. Sen. Ellie Kinnaird, D-Orange, was on hand to address those in attendance.

Kinnaird spoke of how the effects of America's dependence on driving extend far beyond air pollution; it also has serious effects on physical well-being.

"A lot of public health issues have resulted from not using your legs," she said.

The Village Project Inc., a local group dedicated to environmental awareness, organized the event, accepting pledges from citizens to go "car-lite" by eliminating at least one car trip or forgoing using their car altogether.

Patrick McDonough, a member of the group's board of directors, said the group's long-term goals are to make the area less dependent on automobiles and to improve air quality.

"We're interested in achieving environmental sustainability," said McDonough, who is also the transit service planner for the Triangle Transit Authority.

Mayor Kevin Foy pledged to give up his car on Car-Free Day at a Sept. 7 press conference.

Members of both the Chapel Hill Town Council and the Carrboro Board of Aldermen also made pledges.

"It's not just to go without a car, but to reflect upon how we use cars in our lives," said Town Council member Mark Kleinschmidt.

While many people agreed about the importance of events like Car-Free Day, they also debated their effectiveness.

"Most people aren't that interested in the message," said Linda Collins, an education librarian at the University's Health Science Library. "They still want to drive their SUVs."

Collins said she gave up her parking permit three weeks ago.

"I think it's wonderful to raise awareness about the environmental damage driving an individual car does," she said.

She added, however, that many people think public transportation, although free, is far less convenient than driving.

Town Council member Ed Harrison, who participated in the day's events by going "car-lite," also expressed doubts as to how many people actually were paying attention to the message.

Harrison said that while traveling to an inter-town transportation meeting in downtown Durham, he and Carrboro Alderman Alex Zaffron were "struck" by the number of cars on U.S. 15-501.

"There was plenty of traffic," he said. "If there were reductions somewhere, we didn't see them on the freeway."

But Harrison emphasized the importance of the public transportation system.

Chapel Hill Transit offers a fare-free bus service, which officials have said has increased area ridership.

"It's a matter of practicality," Harrison said.

"It needs to be a better advantage (to use public transportation). The campuses are going to be harder and harder to get to without public transportation."

Chapel Hill and Carrboro were among the 1,400 U.S. cities that recognized Car-Free Day, in addition to 37 other countries worldwide.

Staff writer Sara Lewkowicz contributed to this report.

Contact the City Editor at citydesk@unc.edu.