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On September 22, 2024, cities worldwide celebrate World Car-Free Day by urging people to forgo cars for a day. World Car Free Day raises awareness about how vehicle emissions negatively impact climate change and air quality.
World Car Free Day 2024 Theme
World Car Free Day is celebrated annually on September 22 to encourage people to leave their four-wheelers behind and embrace sustainable alternatives like walking and cycling for at least a day. This year, the theme chosen for World Car Free Day 2024 is “Carfree cities are affordable cities”. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the number of cars in the world has grown to 1.475 billion—that’s one car for every 5.5 humans in 2024. The theme brings attention to cities and how expensive it is to maintain car infrastructure and for buyers to buy cars.
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London Streets Closed for Car Free Day 2024
Every year on September 22, London celebrates World Car Free Day with different local events. About 200 streets across London were closed this weekend to mark World Car Free Day.
According to BBC, Some of London’s roads were transformed into temporary spaces for play and social gatherings Reports suggested that there are over 40 million cars on UK roads and approximately 1.47 billion vehicles on Earth.
World Car Free Day is an opportunity to embrace a vehicle-free lifestyle for a day, harkening back to a time before automobiles and reaping the benefits for our health and the environment.
7 Car-Free Cities Around The World
What if we had no cars and lived without traffic logs and honking horns? This might be impossible to think about for now, but a few cities around the world stay car-free for a day. As you scroll down, here are a few car-free cities that you should know.
1. Venice, Italy
As a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Venice draws 20 million visitors each year, yet remains a vehicle-free city. The Venetians have such a strong dislike for wheels that they once considered banning rolling suitcases, showcasing their commitment to preserving the city’s historic character.
2. Ghent, Belgium
This beautiful city centre has become car-free since 2017. The locals can only travel by buses, trams, and electric boats, which provide eco-friendly transportation throughout this historic town.
3. Lamu, Kenya
It is a historic Swahili town that has preserved its traditional way of life by banning cars. Instead, donkeys and dhows serve as the primary modes of transportation, allowing visitors to experience the town’s unique charm and rich cultural heritage.
4. Hydra, Greece
This Greek island of Hydra is a car-free paradise where walking and mule rides are the ones of transportation, offering a unique and peaceful presence of life.
5 Zermatt, Switzerland
This charming town situated at the foot of the Matterhorn, has been free of cars for many years. To reach Zermatt, visitors take a shuttle train, and once there, they can enjoy the town’s eco-friendly transportation options, including electric taxis, bicycles, and free electric buses.
6. La Digue Island, Seychelles
It is a tranquil paradise where cars are prohibited. Visitors can explore the island’s stunning beaches and diverse wildlife at their own pace by using bicycles or electric bikes.
7. Yelapa, Mexico: A tranquil village accessible only through boats on the Bay of Banderas offers a shade of simple living, with no cars prevailing peace in the lap of nature
The Bottom Line
World Car Free Day, celebrated annually on September 22nd, is a call to action for individuals to ditch their cars and embrace sustainable transportation options like walking and cycling.
