World Car-Free Day began as an open call for a grassroots celebration of cities without cars. The date, 22 September, was chosen to coincide with the EU-sponsored European Mobility Week, but the organisation says its hope is to involve people at all levels of society and from all over the world.
With climate change on everyone's minds, the World Car-Free Network invites organisations and individuals around the globe to organise events to showcase alternatives to the automobile and, at the same time, nudge city planners and municipalities to give priority to cycling, walking and public transport.
Car-free days were organised as early as during the oil crisis of the 1970s, and several car-free days were organised in European cities during the early 1990s. An international car-free day was organised in Europe in 1999, which was the pilot project for the European Union's "In Town Without My Car" campaign. This campaign continues as European Mobility Week.
It seems many countries, cities, and individuals are on board and ready to take on the challenge for the sake of our planet:
"All in favor of conserving the environment,
please raise your right foot." #AAKat50 #WorldCarFreeDay pic.twitter.com/rEkHzjyKfn
— AAK_Kenya (@Arch_KE) September 20, 2017
Tomorrow is #WorldCarFreeDay. You know what to do (or rather, what not to do) ...
— SBN (@sustbusiness) September 21, 2017
Tomorrow is #worldcarfreeday! Bicycle hire is available at some #Moscow parks & through the city’s #Velobike sceme https://t.co/es6mGYwHXw pic.twitter.com/5eGvFLHxmL
— visitrussiauk (@VisitRussiaUK) September 21, 2017
Tomorrow is #WorldCarFreeDay - a great opportunity to leave the car at home if you can & try public transport, walking, or cycling! pic.twitter.com/DCyvtYrj0t
— Auckland DHB (@Akld_DHB) September 20, 2017
How will you get around tomorrow in support of World Car-Free Day?
For more, follow the conversation on Twitter under the hashtag #WorldCarFreeDay.
