Car Free Day 2020
Car Free Day looks very different this year. The event encourages drivers to give up their cars for the day, and traditionally events are organised to celebrate streets that are normally dominated by cars. This year, however, there will be no street parties for children, families and friends as we protect ourselves and each other by staying in groups of six. Yet the aims and rationale of Car Free Day – 22 September - are today more important than ever.
In response to COVID-19, Transport for London and local authorities across the city introduced measures aimed at creating safe space for people to make journeys on foot and by bike. Car use dropped during lockdown and air quality in our borough improved by up to 33%. We all understood the value of our local spaces. With lower traffic levels, more people had the confidence to walk and cycle. These are healthy forms of exercise, sustainable, much cheaper and far less polluting than driving cars. Sustaining these benefits is important.
Like many other London boroughs, we have introduced a range of measures to promote walking and cycling, and reduce car use. These align with our longer-term, borough-wide transport strategy to reduce our carbon footprint, to help tackle the climate emergency and to help residents improve their physical and mental health. The measures include creating more space for pedestrians and cyclists so they can make journeys safely, introducing restrictions to traffic around some schools at drop-off and collection times, and creating modal filters to close known ‘rat runs’ down residential streets. Creating a low traffic neighbourhood in Lewisham and Lee Green is an example of our recent measures.
Fewer than 50% of households in our borough own a car, but a recent survey using GPS technology in the Lewisham and Lee Green area found that 60% of the cars (a total of 180,000 per week) had come from outside the area and were passing through.
Evidence collected by Transport for London shows that those who walk to a high street spend 40% more in local shops than those who drive, and that high street walking, cycling and public realm improvements can increase retail sales by up to 30%. Promoting walking and cycling rather than car use is therefore critical to our local economic recovery.
Yet it also offers benefits to everyone. Air quality improves and traffic noise is reduced. Residential streets are calmer, supporting people’s wellbeing. Getting exercise by bike or on foot can help to increase blood flow, and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. It reduces stress and strengthens the body’s immunity. Walking also builds stronger communities as it increases the likelihood of socializing with our neighbours and friends.
Car Free Day may not be an opportunity for street parties this year, but it’s an important reminder of why we and other councils are introducing measures to encourage residents to walk and cycle more.