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World Car Free Day 2019: what is it about and what cities and countries are taking part?


WORLD Car Free Day is an initiative which aims to rid congested cities of vehicles and pollution for at least 24 hours every year.

Let’s take a look at the event which London is taking part in…

 A traffic jam in China, one of the countries taking part in the initiative, caused by roadworks in 2010

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A traffic jam in China, one of the countries taking part in the initiative, caused by roadworks in 2010

When is World Car Free Day 2019?

The event takes place on September 22 every year after becoming a global programme promoted by the World Carfree Network (WCN) in 2000.

What is the aim of the initiative?

The project wants cities to move away from a “car-dominated society” in a bid to reduce pollution and congestion.

In London, planners hope to the event will encourage children to safely play in traffic-free roads.

Entire streets are closed to traffic on September 22 in cities around the world.

The World Carfree Network says the day should be a “showcase for just how our cities might look like, feel like, and sound like without cars…365 days a year.”

It goes on to say that the initiative could pressure “city planners and politicians to give priority to cycling, walking and public transport, instead of to the automobile.”

What countries take part in World Car Free Day?

The WCN only offers guidelines on how to set up the event and are not responsible for any of the annual festivities around the globe.

As a result, they do not have a list of all the cities which are taking part.

However, Kuala Lumper in Malaysia, cities in China, Colombia and Indonesia have taken part in previous years.

Is London taking part in World Car?

Yes, nearly 50 streets will be closed for a car-free Sunday  on September 22 as Greater London takes part in World Car Free Day.

The project hopes to encourage London’s children to safely play in traffic-free roads during the event.

Transport for London has teamed up with the London Play charity to block out more than 20 kilometers of roads in the capital.

 

In addition to reclaiming the roads for recreation and exercise, TfL hopes the day will provide respite for the capital’s air pollution.

More than 40,000 premature deaths are caused by poor air quality in the UK, and vehicle emissions cost the country £6billion every year.

Lanes of the M5 near Taunton eerily empty as traffic is brought to a halt after fatal crash involving lorry


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