Travelling in an environment with no congestion or air pollution may seem like a far-fetched desire but Cardiff's Car Free Day is proof that it doesn’t have to be.
Cardiff’s Car Free Day, which took place on 12 May, allowed people to experience what the city centre could look and feel like if active travel was prioritised over motor transport.
People were encouraged to socialise, play and exercise in a space that is usually dominated by traffic, pollution and noise.
By taking over a part of the city that is normally taken up with cars, congestion and exhaust fumes, Cardiff city centre was transformed into a space where there was space to walk, cycle, scoot and enjoy the quiet, clean city.
Cardiff Council has been undertaking a detailed study into air quality across the city, and are rolling out a plan of work which will aim to bring the levels of air pollution within legal limits in the quickest time possible, this work is a result of a legal challenge by Client Earth.
Steve Brooks, director of Sustrans Cymru added:
“Over-reliance on the car is damaging our health, harming our environment and hurting our economy.
“Events like Cardiff Car Free Day are fantastic, but we want to see more.
“Cardiff Council pedestrianised Queen Street in the 1970s and we had to wait another thirty years for them to pedestrianise the High Street.
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