No Car Day

In 2007, China launched the Green Transport and Health week campaign to help residents understand the importance of environmental protection and be mindful about saving energy.[1] The campaign ended with a No Car Day Saturday.[1]

This Chinese national urban transport campaign was implemented by the Ministry of Construction.[1] During the week of September 22, walking, biking, public transportation, and carpooling are encouraged.[1] On No Car Day they will have special 'green zones' in hundreds of cities.[1] These normally vehicle congested areas will be open only to pedestrians, bicycles, and buses from 7am to 7pm.[1]

No Car Day’s main objective is to promote public transportation. Public transportation helps to conserve energy and have lower emission because the amount of vehicles has been reduced.[1] No Car Day was originally started in preparation for the 2008 Summer Olympic Games that were being held in Beijing.[2]

It is estimated that the 2007 campaign saved 33 million liters of gasoline and cut emissions by 3,000 tons.[1]

Issues

Although over 100 cities were participating in No Car Day, it wasn't making an impact everywhere.[3] Beijing, the capital of China, had cars on the road as if it was a normal day.[3] There were even some roads that weren't going along with no car day.[3] During the span of no car day citizens

Side by side pictures of Beijing, China. One with smog and the other without.

were encouraged to walk, take public transit or ride a bike.[4] Driving automobiles in China has become a status symbol for many residents.[4] Bikers were being judged and being victims of prejudiced just because they chose to ride a bike instead of a car.[4] The people of China were not interested in undoing all that they've accomplished in it being more acceptable to drive cars.[4] Before the 1980s, having a car for personal use was illegal and bikes packed city streets.[4]

The picture on the right shows what Beijing, China would look like if No Car Day made more of an impact on individuals. But it also shows the daily occurrence of smog filled air that accompanies China. Smog makes it hard to breathe and is unhealthy for the population.

Events

No Car Days original focus was to advocate drivers about the environmental impact of driving cars.[2] But it always hasn't grabbed drivers attentions in China. No Car Day hasn't necessarily been a recurring thing. They've advocated for the environment but they haven't made strides in getting people to do more public transportation. In 2014 they tried to bring it back and even though it was in effect, roads were still congested.[5] They advocated for drivers to stay clear on the car free zones but they were suggestion and not enforced.[2] In the future China could start charging a tax for driving in traffic congestion.[5] This would make it more expensive to drive and could effect how many Chinese people drive.[5] What China did in 2015 was they asked Chinese people to drive less for World Car Free Day. [6] In China more than 170 cities took part in World Car Free Day.[6]

This is similar to No Car Day but is a more worldwide event. Also in 2015, leading up the Military Parade, they had martial laws on particular roads that you were forbidden to drive on.[2] Chinese people had to obey those laws of not driving and that helped the environment. By cutting back cars and emission during the Military Parade created a beautiful sky.[7] When it was over and everything went back to normal, the sky began to go back to smog filled.[7] The other events that are similar in aspect to No Car Day are London Freewheel and Unplug America.

Reference List

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2007-09/17/content_6110438.htm
  2. 1 2 3 4 https://thenanfang.com/beijing-unable-get-cars-brake-world-car-free-day/
  3. 1 2 3 http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7007893.stm
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 http://www.cbc.ca/m/news/world/china-s-no-car-day-has-little-impact-on-driving-habits-1.650358
  5. 1 2 3 http://usa.chinadaily.com.cn/epaper/2014-09/23/content_18646763.htm
  6. 1 2 http://www.cctv-america.com/2015/09/22/china-asks-people-to-drive-less-for-world-car-free-day
  7. 1 2 http://www.cnn.com/2015/09/04/asia/china-beijing-blue-sky-disappears-after-military-parade/index.html
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