China's Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Construction has decided that September 22 is the Car Free Day for cities in China.
From 7:00 to 19:00 on September 22, certain areas of a city or the whole city will be car free areas, and will only be open to foot passengers, bicycles, buses, taxies, other public traffic transportation such as the school buses, and special vehicles such as fire engines and ambulances.
The theme for this initiative is "human streets", conveying a clear message that enlarging road space for automobiles is not the solution to the current traffic difficulties; instead, reducing traffic is a sustainable and effective one.
The initiative reportedly aims to advocate green traffic, promote energy conservation, reduce pollution, and to boost the scientific, harmonious and sustainable development of urban traffic.
In the first Car Free Day in 2007, 110 Chinese cities took part in the activity.
