Does a car-free month really make a difference?

As with all of our campaigns, Going Car Free highlights a practical way that the British public themselves can tackle climate change. And whilst swapping some journeys for one month of the year might seem piddly against the scale of the crisis, it really does make a difference. 

Transport is the UK’s single largest source of climate emissions (and most of that comes from cars), making up 30% of the UK’s output. Yet despite the fact that we’ve known about the climate impacts of fossil-fuelled vehicles for some time, change isn’t happening in the way we need it to. Unlike most other sectors, UK emissions from transport have barely fallen since 1990, and the number of cars in the UK is still increasing (and so is the distance travelled in them). 

Sadly electrifying cars just won’t cut it. While they can help in some contexts, switching to electric vehicles won't solve congestion or air pollution, or make streets safer for walking and cycling. What’s more, it’ll take another twenty years for electric vehicles to make up 90% of cars on the roads - and we just don’t have that time. 

Put simply, unless we change how we get around, we won’t reach our climate targets - or build the cleaner fairer society that we envision. 

Of course, your actual carbon savings will depend your journeys and which mode of transport you’ll use instead of taking the car. You can calculate the difference between journey types for your own route by using this carbon calculator, but here’s a handy graphic that illustrates how different modes of transport compare in terms of sustainability.

For the vast majority of people who take on the challenge, it doesn’t stop at 30 days.

This challenge gets you in the door. With just a few trips, we teach ourselves that journeys could be different. And once our minds and bodies feel the benefits, we’re more ready to keep it up and cement new routines. 

Earlier this year, we asked twelve drivers to try going car free for three weeks and to document their experiences. We had some really positive results, with almost all participants deciding to reduce their car use for good (and some making big lifestyle changes after the challenge - like getting their own bike for the first time).

What’s more - this has always been about more than one person getting on their bike. 

Our choices affect the choices of those around us. 

This movement must be a mass movement or it simply won’t achieve its aims.

At Possible we’re keen to disrupt ‘car culture’ and replace it with a climate-friendly reality. The more people that make changes in their daily lives, the quicker we’ll see changes in our climate. 

Even if you don’t say a word, by choosing to make your journeys car free, you encourage others to rethink what’s normal - whether that’s people you live with (who wave you off as you head to the bus stop), those you work with (who see you walk through the door fresh faced and energised from your commute) or simply people you pass on the street (who see one less car driving by). By helping each other see reducing car use as not only an option, but one that we’re enjoying and benefitting from, we encourage others to choose low carbon journeys too. 

But speaking up is where it’s at. The issue of climate change is too often allowed to hide out of sight in specialist areas of activism, science and policy. But not talking about it makes it easier for us all to ignore the frightening reality. At Possible we encourage people to talk about climate change in ways that help inspire and motivate more people to take practical action. 

By mentioning the climate as one of your motivations to take on a 30 day car free challenge, you’re bringing a potentially tricky topic into a positive discussion and helping others to realise that solutions are available but they need all of us to act. 

And our choices affect decisions made in parliament

The government could do much more to get more people making climate-friendly journeys, but they need to be sure that it’s a good use of money (i.e. if they invest in segregated bike lanes will we see more people cycling or more car drivers getting frustrated and taking their business elsewhere?). By choosing to go car-free we show politicians that the public are ready for change. The more of us who ditch our cars, the more likely it’ll be that the government feels confident prioritising walking, cycling and public transport. 

Ready to have a real impact?

Great! Here are three ways you can help: