Car Free Day – A better connected city
We’re urging people across Brighton & Hove to get involved with our events and offers to mark Car Free Day on Thursday 22 September.
A week-long series of activities will be taking place around the city designed to get us thinking about travelling more sustainably.
The local theme this year is ‘A Better Connected City’. It celebrates our aims to improve travel for everyone, by connecting people with their communities and each other in a way that is inclusive, accessible and sustainable.
Something for everyone
School Streets taster day
Among this year’s events and offers will be a School Streets taster day at Aldrington Primary School on the morning of Tuesday 20 September.
The road leading to the school gate will be closed to all non-exempt motor vehicle traffic from 8.15am to 9.15am, and the school community will be encouraged to take part in this experience by walking, wheeling, or scooting to school.
Free travel on our Breeze Buses
In partnership with Brighton & Hove Buses, on Saturday 17 September, we are offering free bus travel on routes 77, 78 and 79 to enjoy a day out in the South Downs.
Breeze Buses run every weekend from the city centre to Devil’s Dyke, Stanmer Park and Ditchling Beacon making travel even more convenient to some of the most beautiful and picturesque parts of our countryside.
Find bus timetables to Breeze up to the Downs.
Other events and activities
- Free Coastal biodiversity healthwalk
- Free Dr Bike sessions
- E-cargo exhibition on Saturday 17 September
- Active travel and climate change exhibition at Jubilee library.
- Exhibition of children’s work at Hove Library and a chance to Meet the Meerkat!
- Betterpoints active travel challenge.
More information about how you can get involved can be found on our dedicated Car Free Day webpage.
Why have Car Free Day?
Improve our air quality
The most polluted areas of our city are usually next to our busy roads and high streets, where the nitrogen dioxide levels are highest.
This is a result of pollution emitted from vehicles, to create clean air in our city we need to reduce the number of vehicles on our city’s roads. Air pollution can cause early death, have a significant impact on our health and put pressure on the NHS. Fresh clean air can improve health, exercise, learning and sleep.
Encourage active forms of transport
Walking or cycling can have important health benefits - just 30 minutes of walking a day can increase your heart and lung fitness, while reducing risk of chronic and cardiovascular disease.
Create safer streets
Every 22 minutes someone is killed or seriously injured on UK roads and while not all of these are a result of cars, by decreasing the number of cars on the road we can reduce this number and improve the safety of all our residents.
Positive steps
Councillor Steve Davis, co-chair of the Environment, Transport and Sustainability committee said: “This summer we’ve all seen and felt the full force of the climate emergency we face. The hottest day on record and one of the driest summers we’ve ever seen.
“We need to do more to reduce harmful emissions and travelling sustainably where possible is a way we can all make a difference. It also helps those who need access to a car, like emergency services and blue badge holders, get round more efficiently.
“Leaving the car at home on Car Free Day is a positive step and I’d urge anyone who can to join in. The events and activities we have lined up look great and there’s plenty of opportunity for everyone to get involved.”
