Whether it’s a commute to your local supermarket, a daily drive to work, or an adventurous road trip, cars have long been our preferred model of travel. But, as enjoyable as road travel might be, it carries adverse effects on the environment. Besides the environmental noise and other issues, the most pressing concern is emissions.
The renowned Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) underscores the magnitude of this issue. It is estimated that approximately 27% of all greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions originate from the transportation industry. Every day, a lot of vehicle-related emissions enter the atmosphere, leading to things like global warming.
However, there are a couple of actions that we can take to lower the emissions. One of those ways is through participating in Car Free Day. This annual event encourages everyone to reduce their carbon footprint by using eco-conscious modes of travel.
In this article, we will explore car free day travel alternatives, and how you can make a positive impact.
What Is Car Free Day?
As the name states, Car Free Day is when we are all encouraged to travel without a car, essentially being car-free. So, instead of driving to your various activities as you normally would, cities around the world encourage individuals to leave their cars behind and embrace green mobility options. With people going car-free on this day, vehicle-related emissions will drop dramatically.
While the officially recognized Car Free Day is September 22nd, a lot of countries hold car-free days on different days and even months throughout the year. Regardless of which day you decide to hold a car-free day, the idea remains the same, to reduce emissions. In 2023, Malawi is holding Car Free Day on the September 29th. You can join us by taking the “Car Free Day Pledge“.
Car Free Day: How To Participate
When it comes to the exact way of holding this event, each city and country may have its own events lined up. For instance, Cycling UK encourages people to get involved in activities like donating, volunteering, or simply raising awareness of vehicle emissions. In this way, you’re not only having your company accredited as an eco-friendly employer, but you’re also assisting Mother Nature through reduced emissions. It’s also a chance to connect with people in your local community.
If you would like to participate, take some time to research events happening around you. You can celebrate Car Free Day in Malawi in 2023 with the Road Safety Alert Foundation (ROSAF) in City Center, Lilongwe, and Mzuzu. If there aren’t any Car Free Day activities around you, you can still participate by connecting with us online and taking the Car Free Day Pledge. You can also urge leaders to sponsor Car Free Days, allowing you to raise more awareness. On Car Free Day, we will open up the streets to cyclists and pedestrians 🚶. Because people won’t use their cars, it’s essential to beef up public transportation. That leads us to our next point.
Car Free Day Travel Alternatives In Malawi
Traveling through alternative methods has its bio-friendly benefits. Safety-wise, it also helps in reducing the number of road incidents/accidents, thereby making our cities safer. That being said, we’ve listed down the top car free day travel alternatives.
Bus
If you would like to get out of the car norm but you have a longer route to travel, a bus might be the best option for you. The best part about buses is that they travel on routes, which extend to almost every part of the city. Also, buses are widely available so you don’t have to worry about missing one bus.
Bicycle/Bike
Bikes are another excellent way to travel around. Not only are bicycles eco-friendly, but they are a good way to travel while keeping yourself in shape. So it’s a Win-Win on this one. As a plus, bikes enable you to travel long distances without a motor/engine. But, of course, be mindful of the time and distance if your destination is, say, work.
Scooter
Since EVs took off on the market, electric scooters have become widely popular around the world. If you want to get around on Car Free Day, but don’t fancy the peddling, we recommend an electric scooter. Since a large number of electric scooters can achieve more than 80 kilometers on a single charge, that’s enough for city travel.
Walk
If you’re workplace or place of errands is within walking distance, the best way to get there is to use your own two feet. It’s by far the best and most natural way to get around. And while you’re at it, you can stop by in City Center, Lilongwe, and join us as we keep the day car-free.
Car Free Day Travel Alternatives: Key Takeaways
So many cities are already car-free, either wholly or partially. It’s never too late to join them. You can start by speaking to your local authority about the possibility of establishing car-free zones. Since there are many car free day travel alternatives, it’s not challenging. All it takes is a few people who not only believe in the cause but also take the steps to get it done.
Even when you can’t actively participate in the Car Free Day, you can still contribute significantly. Remember: Every Facebook post, Instagram share, donation, or a bit of volunteer work under the Car Free Day movement takes us a step forward. With more effort and awareness, car-free zones have the potential to evolve into entirely car-free cities. And instead of having it as a single-day event, Car Free Day could become the norm. Imagine that.
