What is Car Free Day?
What is it?
Every year, 22 September is designated as European Car Free Day.
People are encouraged to experience their local area free from traffic and to explore alternatives ways of moving people and goods in residential or mixed-use areas. Towns and cities taking part in the event reserve an area for pedestrians, cyclists and 'cleaner' vehicles that operate on Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG), Natural Gas (NG), electricity and, in particular, public transport.
It is also an opportunity for local authorities to pilot new measures, or new developments in, goods distribution and urban mobility, such as city car clubs; car sharing; bike parking areas with supervision; and cycle or electric delivery vehicles.
Following Camden’s leading example at Car Free Day 2003, the EC is now requiring all Car Free Day events to be accompanied by a permanent measure. Last year, Camden’s new approach to Car Free Day led to the building of a permanent closure to traffic on a section of the main Car Free Day street. This area is now widely used by pedestrians, cyclists, and cafe customers.
Find out about our past events:
Is it what the people want?
In July 1999 we co-sponsored a survey of residents on the Citizens' Panel with Camden and Islington Health Authority and Islington Council, which found that 66% of people wanted more money to be spent on campaigns to reduce car use.
A further survey of residents on the Citizens' Panel in April 2001 found that 74% of residents support us taking action to reduce the level of traffic in the whole of Camden. In the 2002 survey of the Citizen's Panel, 67% of residents believe that fewer numbers of cars on the road is important for improving Camden's environment.
How do we benefit?
The two most significant benefits of fewer cars on the streets are the drop in noise levels and the reduction in air pollution.
Quieter streets were one of the first things people noticed at the Bloomsbury Car Free Day. Monitoring results indicated that noise dropped by around 12 decibels, which is considered a very significant drop. Given that a 10 decibel reduction is perceived as a halving in sound pressure, the 12 decibel noise reduction in Bloomsbury is considerable, especially given the sound that was coming from the entertainment stage.
A report on the noise monitoring during the 2002 event can be found in the page In Town Without My Car 2002, which reports on the 2002 event.
The air was also cleaner and fresher around Bloomsbury on Car Free Day. Results of the air pollution monitoring showed an average drop in pollution of between 20 to 45% depending on the pollutants. These are just indicative result because the data comes from a fairly limited monitoring exercise, but there is no doubt that having car free streets in Bloomsbury made the area a lot more pleasant for everyone.
European Car Free Day enables us to publicise and promote our Walking Plan and Cycling Plan within the context of traffic-free streets, so creating a safe and pleasant walking and cycling environment. This illustrates how much more healthy and friendly the streets can be when motorised traffic is reduced.
We have 19 targets in its walking plan that seek to improve conditions for pedestrians and so encourage more and longer walking journeys. It also seeks to double cycle use by 2002 and increase cycle use from 2.5% in 2000 to 10% by 2012.