266 European towns and cities to ‘ban the car’ for a day

266 European towns and cities are to celebrate ‘Mobility Week’, running September 16th to 22nd, by going ‘car-free’.

Unsurprisingly, car-addicted UK (where even high-profile MPs expense £172 for a 0.7 mile journey) only has one London Borough and one Scottish city currently commited. Those are London borough of Lambeth and Aberdeen.

The Mobility Week calls on cities to partake in any, or all, of three measures to boost health – including a car free day, a week of significantly boosted activity and a permanent measure.

Aberdeen is to host a Pedal for Scotland mass cycling event, co-inciding with a city Centre car-free day. There will also be a sponsored cycling event with a City primary school, as well as roadshows at many others.

Closed to cars will be Aberdeen City Centre, encompassing Schoolhill, Belmont Street and Little Belmont Street will be closed to traffic and devoted instead to a large free public event.

Meanwhile, Lambeth will close Estreham Road, Streatham to cars on September 26th, opening the area exclusively to cyclists, pedestrains and public transport. A week of activities is also planned, as well as permanent measures to affect the modal share in favour of active transport.

Cllr Jennifer Braithwaite, Lambeth’s cabinet member for Environment and Sustainability said: "Getting people out of their cars and using greener transport is a high priority for this council. Roads are public spaces and we are increasingly trying to get them used in better ways than solely for vehicle use."

A proposed new quietway from Waterloo to Croydon is suggested as the council’s ‘permanent measure’, though these are far from guaranteed, as reported on last week.

Cities and towns can sign up here.

European Mobility Week breakdown by country: