Beat the Back-Up Day Parade

BAA organized the Beat the Back-Up Day Parade in downtown Palo Alto on September 18, 1990, featuring alternative means of transportation such as solar- and electric-powered vehicles, bicycles, horse-drawn carriages, people-drawn automobiles, rollerbladers, unicycles, and other non­-polluting transportation sources, showcasing viable (and sometimes just plain fun) alternatives to the single-occupant automobile. The parade kicked off at noon at the comer of Webster and University, concluding at Palo Alto City Hall. At the rally following the parade, Mayor Mike Cobb challenged other cities in the Golden Triangle (part of Santa Clara County) to raise the most alternative transportation pledge cards.

“What we want to emphasize is that reducing traffic congestion isn’t just a one-day affair,” said Peter Drekmeier of Bay Area Action. “Palo Alto needs to show committment to curbing our traffic problems — supporting Beat the Back-Up Day activities is a good start.”

BAA partnered with the City of Palo Alto Recreation Department, the Palo Alto Chamber of Commerce, and the Palo Alto Medical Foundation for the parade.

To promote the event in advance, BAA did a human sign action over Highway 101 on August 28, 1990. “This was a very successful event and lots of fun,” stated David Smernoff. There was also a rally in Lytton Plaza on September 11, 1990 — "This was a high-profile media event. We had banners, the ‘WHY NOT CARPOOL’ human sign, a living tree, KPIX coverage, and an interview with the mayor.”

BAA also announced Alternative Transportation Tuesday on Beat the Back-Up Day, via news media, including KRON TV, KPIX TV, KCBS FM, and The San Francisco Examiner newspaper.

BAA people involved included: Peter Drekmeier, Geoff Nicholls, Sue Nicholls (née Lambie), Jim Steinmetz, Katherine Armer, Debbie Mytels, Amy Peters, Jeff Hoover, Kai Drekmeier, Andrew Nichols, David Coale, David Smernoff, and Frank Lopez.

Beat the Back-Up was produced by BAA’s Alternative Transportation Task Force.