Motorists are being urged to ditch their vehicles and get more active to mark World Car-Free Day next month.
People will be encouraged to walk, scoot or cycle – instead of driving – to mark the date on 22nd September.
The idea is for people to boost their health and help the environment, following Cheshire East councillor Suzie Akers-Smith’s call for the authority to promote car-free travel.
Cllr Akers-Smith also hopes to encourage town and parish councils and community groups to organise mini pop-up parklets and events on World Car-Free Day.
She said: “World Car-Free Day is a great opportunity to re-imagine our streets and focus them around people and a healthier environment.
“Parklets – informal miniature parks created by temporary road closures – are one opportunity where local communities can experience what happens when parking spaces are changed into areas for community use with benches, seats and planters, for example.
“Ditching the car is also an opportunity to walk, scoot or cycle instead – and I would urge people to take up ‘footsteps Fridays’ or ‘cycle Saturdays’ as alternatives to driving.
“Being more active is not only good for our physical and mental health but also good for our climate, air quality, our local communities and our pockets – especially as fuel prices spiral upwards.
“The most important step to being more active is the first step and making a regular commitment to ‘footsteps Friday’ or ‘cycle Saturday’ will encourage us to do more.
“We all benefit from travelling more on foot and by bike and I am proud that Cheshire East Council supports cycling and more-active travel, for all the benefits it brings to people and their communities.
“We want people to have the courage to dream big and imagine how our communities and environment could be improved if there were fewer cars and people walked, cycled and scooted more.
“World Car-Free Day is an opportunity to reset how we think about travel to help ourselves, our communities and our planet.”
The event encourages motorists to give up their cars for a day, with organised activities taking place in many towns and cities.
These will give motorists and local residents the opportunity to re-imagine their communities with fewer cars.
World Car-Free Day is championed in the UK by transport charity Living Streets, which suggests ways you can help support this year’s campaign, and transform your street into a place for seating, cycle parking or cycle lanes, gardens, play areas or art areas.
More information about World Car-Free Day is available on the Living Streets website.
