About Car Free Day
Car Free Day 2011, in Kampala is an event that is aimed at celebrating the use of bicycle transport, rewarding the current cyclists and a major step towards awareness creation among the public. This event, the first of its kind in Uganda will take place on December 10th 2011 on designated streets by the concerned authorities. It is aimed at allowing bicycle riders to bike freely and comfortably for a period of four hours without fear of being knocked by vehicular traffic. This Car Free Day will also be a mode of social unity and creating a feeling of togetherness and cohesion for sustainability. It is also aimed at bringing to the public the pilot project for sustainable urban transport for Kampala City. About 5000 people are estimated to participate.
Why Car Free Day in Kampala
Sustainable transport is a “hot” topic globally at a time when climate change is also a matter of serious concern. The phrase is used to refer to means of transport with more fuel efficient, space saving and healthy living alternatives. Such means are also referred to as green modes of transport. Walking and bicycling are examples of such means of transport. Traditional transport planning aims to improve mobility, especially for vehicles, and may fail to adequately consider wider impacts. And according to the Intergovernmental report on Climate Change (2007), Greenhouse gas emissions from transport are increasing at a faster rate than any other energy using sector. Road transport is also a major contributor to local air pollution. But the real purpose of transport is access - to work, education, goods and services, friends and family - and there are proven techniques to improve access while simultaneously reducing environmental and social impacts, boosting economic and managing traffic congestion. The use of a bicycle is such a technique.
Despite the numerous advantages of bicycle transport, it has not been accorded due status as mode of transport. Bicycle transport is environmentally friendly, space efficient, healthy, self regulated and cheap to acquire and maintain.
With the current economic crisis, transport costs have increasingly skyrocketed and yet travel is unavoidable for several purposes.
However, the attitude towards bicycle transport is yet to improve since it is, unfortunately, associated with poverty. Fortunately, a recent study carried out in the city of Kampala indicates that Kampala is a cycling city and a several people are willing to use bicycle transport because of its numerous advantages. Safety and infrastructure were top on the list as the reasons for less riding in the city.
It is therefore high time that we celebrated the advantages of bicycle transport, reward those that are currently using it as a mode of transport and promote its general use among the public.