Carefree, Carfree
This Saturday I dare you to try something. Go carfree! I mean it– walk, ride a bike, take public transportation. It’s not that hard!
Every September 22nd, the World Carfree Netwrok celebrates “World Carfree Day.” This day urges “people from around the world get together in the streets, intersections, and neighbourhood blocks to remind the world that we don’t have to accept our car-dominated society.” OOh, we’re on board!
The World Carfree Network is also holding a “Street Conversion Design Contest.” This is a challenge to architects, artists and well, everyone to come up with ideas for all the streets we will not need when we are “carfree.” The deadline is November 15, so get thinking!
What is the “carfree movement”?
World Carfree Network uses the term “carfree movement” rather broadly, to refer to:
- those promoting alternatives to car dependence and car culture, including alternative modes such as cycling, walking and public transport;
- those promoting carfree lifestyle choices, within either a car-dependent, car-lite* or carfree local context;
- those promoting the building of (usually mixed-use) carfree environments# on either brownfield or greenfield sites (usually sited to ensure easy access to a variety of non-automotive transport modes);
- those promoting carfree days, using the events as tools to bring about long-term on-the-ground change in infrastructure and priorities (example: Bogota); and
- those promoting the transformation of existing villages, towns and cities (or parts of them) into carfree environments.
To learn more about the Carfree Network and the World Carfree Day, click here.
