Try Cambridge without a car

This article was published in 2002, in Newsletter 44.

The date 22 September has, for a number of years, been International Car Free Day. This year, more than a thousand towns and cities world-wide took part.

In London, where International Car Free Day is well established, this year the flagship event closed Tower Bridge to motorised traffic. Other activities included costume dancers, parades, interactive games, live bands and information stalls.

This was the first year that International Car Free Day was recognised in Cambridgeshire. Over the weekend of 21 and 22 September, the County and City councils organised a range of events called Try Cambridge without a car to promote travel alternatives to the car. These included:

  • Free bike safety checks and security coding
  • Discounts on cycle tours run by Geoff’s Bike Hire
  • A bus information stall in the Market Square
  • A free historic walking tour around the city centre
  • Free travel on some Park & Ride services, and various discounts were available when you presented a Park & Ride ticket

A pocket guide to sustainable transport in Cambridge has been produced, containing lots of useful information. This guide will be useful long after the International Car Free Day events are over. Copies of the leaflet are available by from Tim Carter (phone Tim.Carter@cambridgeshire.gov.uk). Please give a leaflet to anyone you think might be interested in driving a little less!

For information on the events held in London, see www.londontransport.co.uk/tfl/carfreeday.shtml
. For information on other events in the UK, go to www.local-transport.dft.gov.uk/eurocar.

Clare Macrae