Littlehouse Media

Leave your car at home for Edinburgh’s World Car Free Day

Edinburgh is set to join over 2,000 cities across the globe in celebrating World Car Free Day, a free, community-focused event being organised by Crexcell, and supported by The City of Edinburgh Council.

As a mark of respect following the death of Queen Elizabeth II, Edinburgh’s Car Free Day has been postponed (from the official date of Thursday 22nd September), and will now be staged on Waverley Bridge, on Sunday 2nd October 2022, between 11:00 and 19:00.

Waverley Bridge, in the city centre, will be transformed into an inclusive community hub of information, inspiration and activity encouraging people to consider alternatives to car travel in Edinburgh. The city’s public transport operators, bike and environmental campaigners, active travel and public safety organisations are all set to take part. 

The City of Edinburgh Council has set an ambitious target to reduce distances that Edinburgh residents travel by car by 30% over the next decade, as well as achieving Net Zero status by 2030. With transport being one of the biggest carbon emission contributors, Edinburgh’s World Car Free Day event will encourage people to consider more sustainable alternative transport for their everyday journeys.  It will raise awareness of the more sustainable modes of transport available across the city, promote the health and wellbeing benefits of active travel, and offer the essential information and support people need to commit to long term change.

Among those already signed up to attend are Lothian Buses and Edinburgh Trams, who play a significant role in reducing reliance on more carbon intense forms of transport by providing a quick, convenient and reliable alternative to driving.   Members of the team will be at Waverley Bridge to chat about their services within the city, including Park and Ride options, and the vast opportunities for – and the benefits of using – public transport. Police Scotland will offer support to cyclists and walkers with cycle security advice, personal safety, bike marking and general crime prevention when moving around the city.

The Bike Station, which inspires new cyclists by selling reliable and affordable upcycled bikes, will be on hand to offer bike safety checks and bikes to try out.  The team will also have information on safe cycle routes throughout the city, and bike to work and cycle friendly employer schemes.

There will also be a hosted reception and information point, additional bike parking, a wellbeing area with health and fitness demonstrations and classes, and a chill out zone.  Local singers and bands including Sara Forshaw, Folk Drama, and The Wispz will provide the musical entertainment throughout the day.

World Car Free Day is a worldwide initiative to encourage motorists to reset how they think about travel and use more sustainable transport.  It also promotes improvement of public transport, cycling and walking, and the development of healthier, greener neighbourhoods where jobs are closer to home and where shopping is within a short walk, wheel or cycle from home.

Edinburgh’s ten-year City Mobility Plan aims to transform the way we move around the city, reducing emissions, positively impacting public health and tackling congestion amongst other benefits. Actions include projects like City Centre Transformation, Trams to Newhaven, George Street and First New Town, 20-Minute Neighbourhoods and the extension of 20mph speed limits, as well as behaviour change initiatives and seamless public transport ticketing.

Councillor Scott Arthur, Transport and Environment Convener for The City of Edinburgh Council, said:  “Choosing more sustainable modes of transport, like bus, tram, bike or walking over the car not only benefits the world around us, but can have a really positive impact on our health and quality of life. Car Free Day gives us the chance to really focus on these benefits, and to help people consider how they might try alternative ways to travel.

“The Council has set some ambitious goals to reduce car kms travelled by 30% in the next decade, as well as delivering on our 20-minute neighbourhood vision to enable a net zero Edinburgh where everyone can live well locally. We need to rethink the way we move around the city to meet these targets. I would encourage people to come along on 2nd October to find out more about the different ways we can travel around the capital.”

Find out more on the Council’s Future Edinburgh web pages.

Neil Booth, Edinburgh Trams’ Safety Manager (Environment), commented: “Car-free days provide a massive opportunity for cities to raise awareness of how pollution affects our lives, and highlight how congested roads can be used in different ways.

“At Edinburgh Trams we are fully committed to helping to make Edinburgh healthier, safer and more attractive for both residents and visitors by providing a quick, convenient and reliable alternative to driving into the city centre.”

Ends

Media contact:

Paddy Cuthbert | Littlehouse Media | E: [email protected]| M: 07913 951717

Images:

Various hi-res images can be downloaded here: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/7aiknzqsqndlvfy/AAAkpNSj0M5f7dGwNE_hKiwsa?dl=0

You Might Also Like

Up to 350 riders will take on the Fair City Enduro when it returns to Perth

Inspirational athlete and adventurer, Karen Darke, wins top mountain award

Go Beyond – Fort William Mountain Festival 2025 programme launched

Fair City Enduro Confirmed As Scotland’s Only Enduro World Series Qualifier

Edinburgh’s Electric Cycle Company is being supercharged

Discover Your Adventure – Fort William Mountain Festival 2023 programme announced

Young people invited to collaborate in Muckin’ good summer festivals

Unique Mountain Culture Award goes to novice search and rescue dog teams

IRONKIDS Scotland – 3,000 kids to take part in global running series

World teams heading to Edinburgh for OVO Energy Tour of Britain

Fort William Mountain Festival 2021 goes Covid-19 safe

Lives on the line in the spotlight at The EMFF

Becoming a Conscious Host: Carbon Neutrality and Beyond

Halloween fancy dress mountain bike Enduro returns to Perth

The Fort William Mountain Festival 2019 programme announced

Re-Defining the age of adventure as the EMFF returns in February

No Fuss for Kinlochleven, the UK’s only Enduro World Series Qualifier

Muckin’ good discounts for a muckin’ good 2019 event programme

Lochaber’s Nevis Range becomes an accredited Living Wage employer

Edinburgh’s Electric Cycle Company sees 80% rise in Lockdown sales

Fife farmland to host the new Eliminator MTB Weekender Festival

Fort William Mountain Festival 2024 – Come and discover your adventure

Rob Cochrane wins 2019 Scottish Youth Award for Excellence in Mountain Culture

Three female adventurers to take on epic 1936 cycling trip

Whatever your adventure: The Fort William Mountain Festival programme is launched

Ain’t no mountain high enough (unless you’re a BASE-jumper…)

New European partnership to upskill adventure tourism in five countries

Do we hear Muckwedding Belles in Fife?

Noel Williams wins 2019 Scottish Award for Excellence in Mountain Culture

The new Pentland Trail Centre – The future for Edinburgh biking

The Fort William Mountain Festival 2018 – Celebrate the great outdoors

Muckin’ good news for two wheeled Early Birds

Gravelfoyle – Gravel Cycling at the heart of Aberfoyle’s new tourism brand

‘Moving Mountains’ – Mountain Festival art competition winners announced

Young ‘Fifers’ invited to collaborate in Eliminator Bike Festival

Competition Climber, Shauna Coxsey, wins Scottish Youth Ambassador Award

The UK’s first waymarked gravel cycling trails opened near Aberfoyle

Danny MacAskill is ‘Doing the Dubhs’

Monster Meets Mountain – Nevis Range joins forces with the Cobbs Group

Nevis Range and Trek announce a partnership for 2018/19

Muckmedden Events secure vital funding for UK’s first Team Mountain Bike Enduro

The Cream of Enduro will rise to the top at Comrie Croft

Mountain Bikers Gear Up for a Fun Day’s Night in Falkirk

Best seat in the house! Where to catch Stage 1 – The OVO Energy Tour of Britain

National Funding Boost for Cream o’ the Croft and The Eliminator

Route announcement confirmed for HSBC City Ride in Edinburgh

Alex Dowsett confirms return to OVO Energy Tour of Britain

Winner covers 319km at The UK 24hr Mountain Bike Championships

Inspirational Climber, Caitlin Connor, Receives Prestigious Youth Mountain Culture Award

Media Statement – Development of Stac Pollaidh Car Park, Coigach, Sutherland

Big Biking October – two International bike events for the Outdoor Capital

A bit of ‘This and That’ for stunt riders Danny MacAskill and Kriss Kyle

An Teallach wins €60,000 European Outdoor Conservation Association grant

Fort William Mountain Festival back to a live, multi-venue event in 2022

Scottish Enduro Series confirms POC as headline sponsor for fifth year

IRONKIDS activity programmes promote healthy and active lifestyles – SUN, FUN, RUN!

Edinburgh Mountain Film Festival 2018 – The Long Road To Adventure

Fair City Enduro – The UK’s Most Spectacular Mountain Bike Race

Enduro riders, prepare yourselves for a Highland Clan battle!

Top Award For ‘Stalwart’ Of Scottish Mountaineering, Mick Tighe

Scottish climber Natalie Berry named Youth Mountain Culture Ambassador 2016

New Beinn a’ Ghlo trailhead car park gives back to the mountains

Scotland’s mountain bike Enduro World Series qualifier sold out in record time

‘Death Zone’ mountaineer, Nirmal Purja, to headline Fort William Mountain Festival 2020

Young event assistants invited to join the IRONKIDS Scotland event team

Inspirational volunteer, Steph McKenna, wins Youth Mountain Award

Nevis Range and Trek renew commercial partnership for 2019/20

A Mucky Duathlon for the Eliminator Bike Festival in Fife

Expert of mountain rescue, ‘Heavy’ Whalley, wins top mountain festival award

The Falkirk Funduro 2017: mountain biking fun with two capital F’s

Figurehead environmental campaigner, Dave Morris, wins top mountain award

Start your Highland biking adventure at the new Nevis Range Bike School

Sustainable active travel and food tourism at the heart of new adventure film

Paralympic Gold Medallist Neil Fachie To Attend HSBC UK City Ride Edinburgh

Geraint Thomas and Owain Doull return to OVO Energy Tour of Britain

Cream o’ the Croft: three Muckin’ good family festivals rolled into one!

OATS in search of a Fairy Pool of staff

It’s Up to Us…to step up and save our mountain paths

Cyclists Get into Gear for Angus Cycling Festival

Tour De Ben Nevis and and Ultra Marathon De Ben Nevis – Race Report

No Fuss serve up a vindaloo of an off road bike festival

A new mucky duathlon for the Eliminator Weekender in Fife

Nevis Range and Trek renew commercial partnership for 2020/21

Elite mountain bike racer, Mikayla Parton, wins Youth Mountain Award

Dukes Weekender, a catalyst for Aberfoyle’s rise in gravel cycle tourism

Cream O’ The Croft – far more than just a bike festival

Edinburgh’s Electric Cycle Company has been supercharged

Mountain Bike pros flock to Perthshire for the UK’s first Team Mountain Bike Enduro

Campaign to save Scotland’s mountain paths raises over £218,000 in first year

Nevis Range team up with Endura

Enduro World Series Qualifier, Kinlochleven – Race Report

Huge demand for ultrarunner Jasmin Paris at Fort William Mountain Festival

Fife farm to be transformed for a family bike and outdoor festival

Safety and accessibility first for newly opened Charter Chest Path, Braemar

Elite Freestyle Skier, Kirsty Muir (17), wins Youth Mountain Award

It’s all about head to head bike racing at Fife’s Eliminator

Cameron McNeish wins 2018 Scottish Award for Excellence in Mountain Culture

Danny MacAskill celebrates Edinburgh anniversary with Fringe debut at Circus Hub

£100,000 awarded to innovative Scottish mountain project

Archibald urges Edinburgh locals to sign up for HSBC UK City Ride

Another Muckin’ great line-up of mountain bike events announced for 2017

A muckin’ great Audax, perfect for Cream o’ the Croft road cyclists

An appetite for adventure in the North West Highlands

Top award for World renowned Scottish landscape photographer, Colin Prior

‘What would Mary do?’ at the Fort William Mountain Festival

Nevis Range announces Commencal as new global gravity sports partner

UK’s first Team Enduro event comes to Comrie Croft, Perthshire

Bikes. Dirt. Downhill. Bike Night at The Fort William Mountain Festival 2016

Nevis Range to turn back the clock to 1989 to celebrate 30 years of adventure

Developing for the future at Nevis Range!

Aberfoyle to host new endurance gravel cycling event and festival

Scottish Climbing Instructor, Tim Miller, wins Youth Mountain Culture Award

Works at two of Skye’s most iconic tourist sites restart after lockdown

‘Moving Mountains’ – Mountain Festival art competition carries £3000 prize fund

Lee Craigie, outdoor ambassador and adventurer, wins top mountain award

Danny MacAskill launches video, ‘Danny Daycare’. Best ‘uncle’ ever?

Mark Cavendish to return at the OVO Energy Tour of Britain

Muckin’ good festive discounts on Muckmedden 2018 bike events

POC headline sponsor for Scottish Enduro Series for sixth year