Celebrate World Car Free Day on Monday

Next Monday, September 22nd to be exact, the organisers of World Car Free Day are hoping motorists in over twenty British towns and cities will be ditching their cars and using alternative means of transportation.

The now global event was first organised in Britain by the Environmental Transport Association (ETA) and involved almost 2,000 towns and cities in 38 countries all over the world last year.

ETA have also published the results of research into the attitudes of British drivers to CO2 emissions.

37 per cent claimed to be aware their cars were responsible for pollution, but did not feel they had any other way of making journeys.

Around 11 per cent felt guilty about the emissions and had already managed to successfully cut down on unnecessary car trips.

However, another 11 per cent thought reducing their mileage would make no difference to the environment.

Director at the ETA, Andrew Davis, said: "With people facing high fuel prices and concerns about the environment, this year's Car Free Day is timely.

"The idea is not to put cars on trial or to totally condemn drivers' desire for mobility, but rather to reconsider the way we travel.

"European surveys have shown that over six people in ten say that city traffic is unbearable.

"Nine out of ten people believe that increasing public transport is a priority in combating air pollution and seven out of ten say they support a ban on car traffic in the centre of cities on certain days.

"However, at the same time, the number of cars and urban traffic is constantly increasing, eroding the quality of life of urban dwellers with the increase in noise, air pollution and stress," Mr Davis added.

Areas involved in the event on Monday include: Brighton; Bungay; Derby; Devon; Plymouth; Torbay; Harrogate; Hastings; Lewes; London; Maidstone; Manchester; Newcastle upon Tyne; Reading; Edinburgh; Glasgow; West Lothian; Sheffield; Walsall and Worthing.