Hirra Khan Adeogun, co-director of climate charity Possible, focuses on car-free travel options in Oxford, in an article for cycling campaign group Cyclox.
Politicians in the UK have spent decades putting policies in place which make driving easier and cheaper.
We have normalised mass private car ownership and all the problems it creates, telling ourselves that this is the only way of doing things. But there is another way. We need to create cities with fewer cars on the road, moving away from all the dangers cars pose to our health, our lives, and the climate.
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Climate science makes clear that we need to reduce our dependence on cars. The climate charity I work for, Possible, has been campaigning on this for years, encouraging walking, wheeling, and cycling as well as lobbying politicians to invest in public transport and progressive policies that will inspire people to stop driving.
A key component of our campaigning was to create the Going Car Free challenge.
(Image: Cyclox) We recruited 12 willing participants in Oxford to give up their cars for three weeks, seeking alternative methods of travel, and report their experiences back to us. The information we gathered would then be used to support our goal of breaking the cycle of being locked into car ownership simply because there are no alternatives.
Going car free, for even a short period of time, isn’t easy – especially if you are someone who has gotten into the habit of driving everywhere, if you can’t rely on other means, or if you have mobility issues. But, for many of us, it’s not impossible.
The participants we recruited were people from all walks of life, with the one thing they had in common being that they were regular drivers either out of what they felt was necessity or habit.
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Possible’s Going Car Free challenge gave many of them the boost they needed to shake up their car-based lifestyle and stop relying so heavily on their cars.
Throughout the three weeks of the challenge, there was an astonishing 50% reduction in carbon emissions among participants day-to-day on average. Additionally, most participants reported improved wellbeing from going car free for three weeks - from improved mental health, a stronger sense of community, less social isolation, cleaner air, and some even saved money.
Many of the participants chose to either cycle or take the bus, and 10 out of the 12 participants are planning to cut their car use permanently following the Going Car Free challenge. One person gave up their car entirely.
(Image: Cyclox) Others decided to cycle instead. One participant hired a bike so he could try it out without spending the money upfront, feeling that cycling would be the perfect way to get some extra exercise while not having to rely on local buses and getting stuck in traffic.
The cyclist told us: “I absolutely loved cycling around Oxford. I didn’t think I’d be fit enough to get everywhere I wanted to, but I really surprised myself. I could feel myself getting stronger as the challenge went on, and I felt better mentally as well as physically. It was such a huge morale boost.” After the challenge ended, this person actually bought a bike.
It might sound scary to give up your car. But it brings so many benefits to your own life, as well as cleaner air and calmer roads. Rather than spending hours stuck alone in traffic and congestion by driving, we could spend more time getting more exercise, talking to people, or spending more time with their loved ones.
Millions of us could feel these benefits if we are supported in doing so – by improving cycling infrastructure and investing in local transport services, for example. We know we need to cut our car miles. We know there’s too much traffic in Oxford. So let’s get on with helping people to make this positive choice for themselves, our communities, our cities and our climate.
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About the author
Andy is the Trade and Tourism reporter for the Oxford Mail and you can sign up to his newsletters for free here.
He joined the team more than 20 years ago and he covers community news across Oxfordshire.
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