Residents are being urged to pledge to leave their vehicles at home on St Albans Car Free Day on 26 September 2010 and to come along to a City centre event promoting alternative means of travel, such as bicycles and public transport.
Organised by St Albans City and District Council, with the support of Hertfordshire County Council, the event is designed to encourage people to reduce congestion and carbon dioxide emissions in the City by cutting down on their car usage.
It will take place in St Peter’s Street, from 12 noon to 3pm, and entertainment will include bike races, organised cycle rides, free historic walks of St Albans, treasure hunts, a circus skills workshop, sports and crafts activities, giant board games and a balloon modeller. Visitors will also have the opportunity to take a ride on an electric bike and in a rickshaw for free.
In addition, information about alternative forms of travel and the environment will be available from exhibitors who are expected to include Liftshare, St Albans Cycling Campaign, community environment group Transition St Albans, public transport information provider Intalink, Friends of the Earth and the Council’s Sustainability Team.
Residents can pledge to leave their cars at home for the day on the District Council’s website. Everyone who signs up to the pledge will be entered into a free prize draw to win a luxury hamper of environmental goodies.
The St Albans event takes place just days after World Carfree Day on 22 September, the aim of which is to encourage people to reduce their use of cars. It also coincides with European Mobility Week, an annual campaign, supported by the European Commission, which is aimed at promoting the use of public transport, cycling and walking.
Councillor Melvyn Teare, the Portfolio Holder for Environment and Sustainability at St Albans City and District Council, said: “It is one of the Council’s priorities to reduce traffic congestion in St Albans and the District’s carbon footprint. I appeal to residents to give up your cars on 26 September and to come along to St Albans Car Free Day. In the process, you will help reduce carbon dioxide emissions and, hopefully, be encouraged to reduce your car usage overall.”
Stuart Pile, Hertfordshire County Council’s Executive Member for Highways and Transport, said: "St Albans' residents don't need me to tell them that traffic congestion in the city is a major issue. This ancient city was not designed for today's modern traffic and, in order to reduce the number of cars on the road, we need to change the way we choose to travel. We've been working closely with our colleagues at St Albans City and District Council to improve cycle routes and update bus information. Hopefully, St Albans Car Free Day will make people realise how easy it is to get into the City by bike, bus or on foot and encourage more residents to leave their cars at home when they come into St Albans for work or leisure."
The District Council is committed to achieving a 60% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions for the District by 2025 and a 25% reduction in its own emissions by 2013, both from 2006/7 levels. Next year, it hopes to extend the St Albans Car Free day to other locations in the District and to close off St Peter’s Street for the day from traffic.
More information about what the District Council is doing around sustainable development is available on thw Council's website.
Member contact:
Councillor Melvyn Teare, the Portfolio Holder for Environment and Sustainability at St Albans City and District Council
Tel: 01727 868086
Contact for the press:
Amanda Wilkinson, Communication Officer
St Albans City and District Council
Tel: 01727 819317
E-mail: amanda.wilkinson@stalbans.gov.uk
www.stalbans.gov.uk
Note:
1. World Carfree Day is an international event that is supported by the World Carfree Network and is intended to encourage people to reduce their car usage in the long term. More information on World Car Free Day is available on World Carfree Network's website.
2. European Mobility Week is an annual event supported by the European Commission and is aimed at raising awareness of public transport, cycling and walking. It is also designed to encourage European cities to invest in the infrastructure for these modes of transport. More information about European Mobility Week, which runs from 16 to 22 September, is available on dedicated website.