Let Our Cities Sing
The modern city is unthinkable without traffic noise. But its impact on our lives has been overlooked for too long.
The current way our cities are structured means that we accept the harm that comes with cars. As part of our Car Free Megacities campaign we want to help people reimagine their streets as places free from the harms of car dominance.
While the move to electric cars promises quieter streets, electric cars are not the solution. The move to electric cars won’t happen overnight, and although there is less engine noise from electric cars, road noise from tyres and brakes will remain a serious issue.
NOISY CITIES
Our noise maps show the levels of exposure to noise in London, Paris and New York. Use your mouse to explore the loudest and quietest spots in our Car Free Megacities.
Map of noise pollution in London.
Giving Our Megacities Back their Voice
Ultimately, we don’t want our cities to be silent - but the unique sounds of London, Paris and New York are being muffled by the constant stream of road traffic. Car Free Megacities hosted events including a roadside concert and a sound caravan in May across London, Paris, and New York! We wanted to give our megacities back their voices. Click on the links below to find out what happened in each city.
Photo of man playing guitar on London street.
Photo of the sound caravan in Paris.
Photo of our New York City partners at street event.
Health impacts of noise pollution
The World Health Organization (WHO) has said that noise pollution is one of the biggest threats to environmental health in Europe, with around one in three people negatively affected by it. The UK’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) estimates England’s annual social cost of urban road noise to be between £7 billion and £10 billion, on a par with the cost of traffic collisions at £9 billion. France’s Conseil National du Bruit (National Noise Council) and Ademe (France’s Environment and Energy Management Agency) estimate the social cost of noise in France at 147 billion euros per year.
Noise can have a variety of impacts on our health. It has been shown to increase levels of anxiety, which can have knock-on impacts in terms of heart and circulatory health. A 2018 meta-analysis commissioned by the WHO estimated that for every 10 decibel-increase in noise exposure in a community, the risk of cardiovascular disease might go up by eight percent.
Noise pollution can also impair communication, reduce work or learning performance, cause hearing loss, affect children’s cognitive development, and contribute to poorer mental health overall. On the other hand, studies suggest that the sounds of nature - of birds, water and wind - can physically change our mind and bodily systems, helping us to relax.