Going Car Free
Hirra Khan Adeogun
The problem
Overall car kilometres driven on Britain’s roads need to fall by between 20% and 60% by 2030
Source: More than electric cars: Why we need to reduce traffic to reach carbon targets, Transport for Quality of Life & Friends of the Earth, December 2018
We work in Birmingham, Bristol, Leeds and London to:
1. Convince the public of the necessity for, and benefits of, fewer cars on urban streets, especially to reduce carbon emissions
2. Work with local communities - particularly those who are most harmed by the effects of mass car dominance - to co-design and deliver changes to local streets, taking space away from cars and giving it back to people and nature
3. Encourage and inspire local decision makers to raise ambitions and accelerate change in our cities
4. Establish a replicable model for climate action through streetscape redesign
7
Impact: part 1
“You may remember that I'd been planning to get solar panels with the money I made/saved from selling the car. Well, it's finally happening!”
Michelle from London also sold her car:
Joe in Birmingham sold his car and swapped his wife’s car for an EV:
“it’s made us realise how life without a car could be achievable as a family.”
Funmi from London says it has been life changing
Nathanael helping to spread the word about how traffic is holding up emergency vehicles
https://twitter.com/_wearepossible/status/1519692924887330816
Impact: part 2
Moment of maximum danger
BE COURAGEOUS HERE!
LTNs
Low traffic neighborhoods (LTNs) prevent people from shortcutting down minor roads, keeping the majority of traffic on major roads that are better designed for heavier traffic flows.
People can still walk and cycle down the road, and if you live on that road, you still have access to it with your car.
The idea is to reduce traffic on minor roads, make the air cleaner, make roads safer for kids to play outside, and for walking, hweeling and cycling, and to make roads quieter and more peaceful places to live.
We surveyed nearly 300 households on streets with historic modal filters
They are overwhelmingly popular!
People’s views about traffic filters are not fixed: they trend towards greater support following lived experience with the change
Where the status quo is a filtered street, residents focus on the problems that would be caused if that were to change
Change meets resistance - no matter the starting point
One big pattern: its nearly always the same
Initial fears about potentially negative impacts from traffic reduction prove unfounded. Once in place and the benefits have been experienced, people don’t want to go back.
One big lesson: courage
The key to success is leaders who practice good communication, are courageous, tenacious and see things through
Questions?
Hirra Khan Adeogun
@_wearepossible | @hirr4 | hirra@wearepossible.org