On 22 September we’ll be celebrating Car-Free Day. It’s the perfect opportunity to give up travelling by car for the day and switch to an alternative means of transport. If you’re worried about limited transport options, don’t be – there’s plenty to choose from! Read our article and discover the alternatives for World Car-Free Day.
Car-Free Day on 22 September – what’s it all about?
World Car-Free Day is celebrated on 22 September as part of European Mobility Week, which starts on 16 September. The aim of the initiative is to promote eco-friendly transport and, in turn, to raise awareness of the amount of harmful pollutants that cars and other combustion-engine vehicles release into the environment.
This week is a good time to think about swapping the car for an eco-friendly transport alternative. Perhaps the city you live in has some interesting offers for you, or maybe your own collection of sports equipment already includes a suitable means of getting to work or school that day. What matters is making the most of this time and relieving the environment of excess pollution.
Alternatives to getting around by car
There are many alternatives to travelling by car. Car-Free Day is a great opportunity to try them out. You can use public transport such as buses, trams, trolleybuses and even suburban rail.
And if you’re worried that city and suburban public transport won’t meet your expectations, or you’d rather not risk infection during the difficult pandemic period for the sake of your health, you can also make use of the bike and scooter hire schemes available in Poland’s larger cities.
The simplest solution for those who have a bike or a scooter at home is to make the most of them during Mobility Week. That kind of physical activity will do you a world of good!
For those who don’t have a bike or scooter and don’t want to hire one, we’d point out that walking is also a great solution – not only for the environment, but for your body too. Exercise in the fresh air oxygenates the body beautifully, puts you in a good mood and gives you energy for the whole day!
Cycling through the city
A lot of people worry precisely that they won’t cope with cycling through the city, because of the heavy traffic and complicated infrastructure. However, more and more cities are expanding their cycle path networks in such a way that getting around by bike every day is very easy and enjoyable.
That’s not the only concern of people who want to cycle to work or school. Unfortunately, they still worry about whether their bike will be stolen if it’s left locked up in one place for several hours. If you’re one of those people, be sure to read our earlier article on how to protect your bike from theft.
Public transport on World Car-Free Day
International Car-Free Day doesn’t have to mean higher costs for people who drive to work, school or elsewhere. On this day, many Polish cities offer their residents free public transport or attractive discounts on fares. So it’s worth checking the offers from the transport operators in your city in advance.
It’s worth noting that Car-Free Day is part of the whole of European Mobility Week, during which you can expect plenty of initiatives from cities to motivate their residents. After all, the goal is to reduce the amount of pollution in the environment.
Walking through the city?
A walk is always a good idea. Regular walking has a positive effect not only on our health but also on how we feel. The body gets more oxygen, the blood circulates faster, and on top of that we get a solid dose of endorphins to recharge our batteries for the whole day.
If you have the chance to walk to work or school on Car-Free Day, we warmly encourage you to do so!
E-scooters as a way of getting around the city
There are now more and more e-scooter operators in our cities. Anyone within a zone where scooters can be ridden, who has a bank card and the inclination, can set up an account and hire one. Bear in mind, though, that scooters must be parked in the zones permitted by the operator – otherwise you may have to pay a penalty.
Things are much easier for those lucky enough to own their own e-scooter. But here, too, there are a few important points to keep in mind – namely the new regulations governing how fast you can ride a scooter on the pavement, and who is allowed to ride one unaccompanied.
The benefits of getting around without a car
Car-Free Day brings many benefits for the environment – throughout European Mobility Week there are noticeably fewer cars in the city, and therefore cleaner air. But those aren’t its only plus points. It also pays off for those who decide to leave the car at home for the whole of Mobility Week, or even for just one day – 22 September, International Car-Free Day – and choose an alternative, eco-friendly means of transport.
Activity in the fresh air, in any form – walking, cycling or riding a scooter – is very good for our health. And on top of that, you can shed a few kilos and sleep better at night once your body has had a proper dose of oxygen.
