Leave the car parked this Friday for Car Free Day!

Friday 22 September is World Car Free Day which provides a chance to experience some of our streets traffic-free, with a focus around people.

We are encouraging everyone who can, to leave their car at home and walk or cycle when travelling locally that day. Using these options for short journeys can help to improve local air quality as well as providing personal health benefits from physical activity.

For longer journeys there are ebike and escooter hire schemes, and for those unable to make journeys by foot or bike, many parts of the borough are well connected by public transport.

Supporting more active travel and improving air quality in Richmond upon Thames is one of our key priorities.

To mark Car Free Day we previously announced that we would be waiving all administration costs for road closures on Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 September to encourage Play Streets. This year there will be 31 Play Streets which offer residents the chance to close their roads to through-traffic and allow children to safely play outside with their friends, family and neighbours.

Find out more about Play Streets for Car Free Day.

The best way to mark Car Free Day is to make sure that your car (if you have one) stays parked for the duration of the day.

Residents can also support the campaign in many other ways, including:

• Hiring one of the Lime Bikes or e-scooters which operate in the borough for short journeys
• Joining one of our all ability cycling sessions in Twickenham during September which will provide bicycles adapted for people with learning, physical or sensory disabilities
• Using the recently expanded electric cargo bikes hire scheme network provided by Our Bike. There are now 9 locations across the borough
• Using the CycleStreet UK journey planner to plan your cycle in and around the borough
• Taking a walk in our parks and open spaces
• Hiring a new bicycle, e-bike or cargo bike for a small monthly fee with the option to buy the bike with Try Before You Bike
• Using the Low pollution route finder for your active travel journeys
• Making the most of the Older Person's Freedom Pass (ages 60+) giving you free travel on London underground, buses, docklands light railway and trams at all times as well as on some overground and National Rail services