Would you advocate a car less day for your city?

Would you advocate a car less day for your city?

Since the day the first vehicle rode the streets in the 1880s, automobiles have been part and parcel of modern life. It is estimated that there are close to one billion motor vehicles plying on roads across the world. Car-free days or car-less days are perfect for escaping the danger, noise and pollution automobiles produce. While informal car-free days were celebrated in the 1990s, first World Car Free Day was launched in the year 2000. Many large cities close their central roads on this day and organise walking as well as cycling events. Can a city really succeed in banning cars from streets, even for a few days in the week? Gurgaon made a move in this direction through an announcement of every Tuesday as Car Free Days. Other cities which have also practised car less days include Hyderabad, Shimla and Matheran. On August 9th, 2015, Coimbatore, TN’s second largest city had its first car less Sunday. But would one advocate a car less day for their city? Let’s explore the reasons why this may or may not be a good idea.

Yes

1. The safety issue - Banishing of cars from congested areas has become a trend in countries from EU and US to India because city planners have realised that cars rarely leave space for pedestrians to walk safely.

2. Owning a car more of peril than pride - In the current situation, owning a car is no longer a matter of pride, but increasingly fraught with difficulties instead. These include traffic and overcrowding, road rage, road accidents and parking problems.

3. Problem of overcrowding solved - Governments have imposed fines for overcrowding on streets, increasing the cost of parking and so forth. Instead, car free days can be used to eliminate the problem of congestion and overcrowding. Cities such as Milan even give citizens financial incentives to travel by public transport rather than cars.

4. Benefits of promoting a car free culture - Elimination of pollution and health benefits are also there in promoting car less days for cities.

5. Car free campaigns catching on - Different campaigns such as Ramagiri Day in Gurgaon and Cycle Day in Bangalore are meeting with huge success as people prefer the convenience of using public transport and foregoing their personal vehicle.

6. Promoting sustainability - car free day is an interesting goal to work for, as it will promote sustainable development and lower GHG emissions and carbon footprint

7. Improving the quality of life - Apart from lowering human impact on the environment, car free days also improve the quality of life for people through cleaner air, more freedom to move and health payoffs.

8. Advantages for the community - It has been shown that car free days benefit individuals as well as communities on the whole.

9. Saves time and money - On an average, commuters in Western cities spend nearly 70 hours per year sitting in traffic. In India as well, with the increase in the number of cars, the problems of overcrowding and traffic congestion has been multiplying. Car free days will help people to use public transport instead such as metros and subways and this will be time as well as cost effective.

10. Health Benefits - Studies confirm that those who do not use cars, but opt for more healthier options such as walking and biking will experience payoffs for their mental as well as physical well being.

11. Cars are for affluent minority - Mostly, multiple cars are owned by rich people who use this mode of conveyance on a regular basis thereby creating pollution problems for the wider community. Cars benefit a few at the cost of many. Car free days should be used to reduce this disparity

12. The convenience quotient - Cities are already burgeoning with people, houses and offices. Adding cars to roads will only increase the mayhem. Apart from this, cities have lack of space and options such as walking and biking are much more viable.

No

1. Car free days are a waste of effort - Just by going without cars for a single day, pollution will not be eliminated and neither will attitudes change. Affluent persons will continue to acquire more cars and use them on roads even as purchasing power of earning public is on the rise.

2. Cars are extremely convenient - For important events and appointments where one has to be on time, cars are a much more sensible option. Even for medical emergencies or any kind of situation requiring quick response, cars are a better option as public transport is not so easy to use.

3. Comfort factor - Cars are much more comfortable to travel in, especially if public transport such as metros and trains are overcrowded, as is often the case in urban cities. Many times, there is no place to stand, let alone sit and there have been many instances of accidents on account of over congestion as well.

4. No car environment does not translate into low car environment - Just because car free days are observed some days of the week does not mean that a car-less culture will prevail. It will take a lot more than removing cars from roads for a day for people to realise the importance of preventing use of automobiles..

5. No consensus - We live in a democracy which means that everyone’s opinion counts. Many people such as parents, voters, workers who have responsibilities and duties to be on time prefer cars and with lack of agreement on the issue, a car-less day is just like forcing your opinion on someone else.

6. Removing cars from roads is counterproductive - If economic growth and progress are the aim, cars have a big role to play in this. They improve efficiency and ensure that people can move across vast distances very rapidly. If technology cannot help people, then what is the benefit of being an advanced society?

7. Using pollution free technologies is a smarter option - Rather than opting for a few car-less days which will really not reduce pollution, citizens should use clean energy technologies and alternative energy sources to promote a healthier environment

8. Change in attitudes more important - Rather than just observing a few car-free days, a more long lasting change in attitudes is needed and that will only be forthcoming if society acknowledges the benefits of car-less societies and actively works towards this.

9. Car free days are not properly implemented - There is no point in having a car less day if citizens are going to flout rules. Moreover, car free days are not very popular with people who feel that it is a very reduced effort lasting a few hours in small sections of the city. They also disrupt activities and functioning of the city. In other words, they are more of a problem than a solution

10. Problems for traffic and transport planners - Car free days are a major headache and logistics nightmare for the police and traffic planners. Technical aspects of pulling off a car free day should not be underestimated

11. Car free means customer free - Car free days may not be good for trade and business as people will be less likely to visit stores. The very idea of a car free day is an anathema for those who want to make profits and promote healthy trade and commerce. Business centres would fall under considerable financial pressure, if car free days are promoted. Instead of car free days, businesses need easier and faster access to stores. Car less days are not beneficial for the economy

12. Organising car -less days is easier said than done - Car free day organisers have to make efforts to consult and educate local people so that the campaign is a success. A lot of tact, hard work and effort is involved which volunteers may not want to put in.

13. Humans take a long time to change their ways - Scientists say if takes 66 days for human beings to form new habits. A car free day for just 24 hours will not attain any measure of success in initiating long lasting attitude change.

Conclusion

The objective of a car-less day is to create a setting where people see the importance of doing without automobiles. Car free days are only meaningful if they play a major role in the transition to a low car usage pattern in urban cities. Closing city centres to cars for even one day in a year would help people to address chronic problems like pollution by making the switch to alternative transportation gradually. All over the world from Washington and Paris to Stockholm, car free days are being observed with a great measure of success. Relying on multiple modes of transport is also cost and time effective. If we want a greener and cleaner environment, campaigns such as car-less days could well be the first step forward in driving people to more lasting attitude changes in the right direction.