Nearly 1000 people go car free in July

Going Car Free 2022, the new annual challenge from climate charity Possible, had close to 1000 people give up their car either for key journeys or completely for the entirety of July.

Challenges also included replacing the weekly grocery shop, commute or school run with a low-carbon transport alternative, going car free for a week or getting a friend or neighbour involved.

One participant tweeted about their experience giving up their car for their 12-mile round-trip commute. They cut out a whopping 560 car miles and estimated their savings to be about £100.

Liberal Democrat member of the London Assembly, Hina Bokhari, also voiced her support on Twitter saying that the challenge had encouraged her to learn how to cycle and had taught her the value of cycle training across London.

Transport emissions make up 27% of all UK greenhouse gas emissions, and cars account for over half of this total.

Sandra Green, car free Birmingham campaigner at climate charity Possible, said: ‘Seeing the impacts of Going Car Free 2022 has been truly inspiring.

‘So many people have discovered the joys of alternative ways of travelling and have realised that they simply don’t need their cars as much as they thought. I hope, after a successful first year, we can make the Going Car Free challenge even bigger and better so everyone can have their car-free awakening.’

Participants had the chance to win prizes from a range of companies, including Brompton, Cycle Chic, Sprit Joe’s Tea Co and Kabloom, and received discount codes from Voi Technology, Co-Wheels, Enterprise Car Club, Cycle Chic, Cycle Spirit, Carry Me Bikes and Peddle My Wheels.

They also got a free membership to Green Squirrel’s online community, The Something Club.

Possible is a UK based charity that aims to bring people together to take positive, practical action on climate change.

Photo by Roman Koester