Bike subscription brand Swapfiets has found that 55% of UK citizens want more car-free zones.
In a Censuswide survey of 2,000 respondents, 2 in 5 people said they support making UK cities completely car-free.
The findings come shortly before Car Free Day is globally celebrated on 22 September which encourages people to give up using their car for the day.
“Any conversation around progress is going to be met with a level of resistance,” Swapfiets UK Country Manager Katarina Hlavata told Zag Daily. “The key takeaway here is that we can’t force change but should instead look to educate people over time on the benefits of car-free zones in UK cities. This won’t happen overnight; we’re a country – just like many around the world – with infrastructure built around cars often at the cost of public spaces.
“Our findings show that there is an appetite for less congestion, less pollution and cleaner cities, particularly in the capital. Ultimately, car-free zones are not a penalty; they are a different perspective on how we can create more liveable cities that prioritise people over traffic.”
Katarina calls for car-free zones to be introduced slowly so that those who are sceptical will begin to reap the benefits as more space opens up. “Policymakers shouldn’t respond to these findings with a knee-jerk reaction,” she said. “They need to take the time to understand their local communities, see what will work best for them and lay out a long-term plan that slowly helps people transition from car-focused infrastructures to one that prioritises people.”
Previous research from Swapfiets found that, when imagining UK cities without cars, 41% of Brits would want more roads transformed into green spaces and trees, 40% would want more cycling and pedestrianised zones, and 24% would want more street dining.
“It would be great to see policymakers take action on moving UK cities away from being car-focused to spaces that are created with the general public in mind first. Not only would this benefit the environment by reducing emissions in some of the most polluted areas of the UK – a key component of the Government’s net-zero target – but would also open up roads to other modes of transport, particularly cyclists.”
Swapfiets’ latest findings come as other European cities like Amsterdam and Paris continue to expand their car-free zones. Paris is expected to spend €500 million by 2026 on cycling infrastructure and incentives to encourage citizens to travel by bike.
To celebrate Car Free Day, Swapfiets is offering Londoners free month-long subscriptions for its Power 1 e-bike and is also hosting its Cycle Squad event on the day to encourage more people to cycle.
Earlier this year, the brand launched its Women’s Cycle Squad initiative to encourage women to feel confident using a bike, after it found that 90% of women fear urban cycling in the UK.
“In giving out month-long free bike memberships throughout September, we aim to encourage more Londoners to get out on two wheels and explore their surroundings, while getting more comfortable with cycling in cities. Going beyond Car Free Day and extending this to a month-long challenge shows that there are ways to live a more sustainable lifestyle – and it’s as easy as getting on your bike.”
