Could you live car-free for a year?

The Tour de Fat is a costumed bike parade through Durham featuring local food, beer and entertainment. The free event challenges people to live car-free for a year.

Posted 3:14 p.m. Jun 19, 2012 — Updated 9:21 p.m. Jun 19, 2012

Kathy Hanrahan

The Tour de Fat, a costumed bike parade through Durham featuring local food, beer and entertainment, is Saturday.

The free event will raise money for the North Carolina Active Transportation Alliance, a statewide advocacy organization promoting non-motorized transportation choices for residents and visitors to the state.

Registration starts at 9 a.m. and the bike parade begins at 10 a.m. from Diamond View Park.

Music will be provided by Sister Sparrow & The Dirty Birds, Sean Hayes, Yo-Yo People and Sssnakenstein.

The pinnacle of Tour de Fat events, which are held throughout the country, is the ceremonious car-for-bike swap. One person in each city will hand over their car keys and pledge to live car-free for one year.

Each car-for-bike swapper gets to choose a local bike shop to help convert a $2,250 budget into car-replacement commuter bike. Vehicles for Charity will auction the cars, with proceeds going to local cycling organizations.

Would you be able to live car-free for a year?

Well, they are still looking for a volunteer filling to go car-free at the Durham Tour de Fat event. To submit a swapper application for this year, go to the New Belgium Tour de Fat Facebook page and upload a video. Applicants may also submit letters about why New Belgium should select them by sending an email to trademycarforabike@newbelgium.com.