Posted on 22 September 2019 by CarTakeBack

It's hard to imagine a world without cars and here at CarTakeBack we're not sure we want to! However we all do agree we could use them much more effectively. The CarTakeBack Team is using this World Car Free Day to have a think about ways we could give our old wheels a rest, and of course what to do with them when it's time for them to fully retire!

Every year, World Car Free Day sees cities all around the world encourage motorists to give up their vehicles and highlight the benefits of going car free. This includes reduction in air pollution as well residents being able to walk and cycle in a safer environment. Some cities even close certain roads to vehicles to showcase how they might look, feel and sound without any cars.

We know giving up your car or van, full time at least, isn't always practical or possible for everyone. For World Car Free Day, we thought we'd look at just some of the ways you could give up your wheels. And who knows, you might just find something that would work for you on a regular basis.

1. Get Walking

Many of us will automatically jump in the car for journeys that we really could do on foot, if you're able to, try and break that habit this Car Free Day. Getting out in the fresh air is good for us on many levels and you'll most definitely see a different side of places and even people that you might miss stuck in your car!

2. Re-Cycle

Whether you're a regular cyclist with all of the gear or haven't been on a bike in a long time, now is the time to make use of this great mode of transport. If you don't have your own, many cities run bike schemes where you can easily and cheaply rent a bike and return it to one of the docking stations dotted around town.

3. Public transport

Ideally we'd steer away from anything with an engine this car-free day but sometimes longer journeys are unavoidable. Taking the train/bus/tube helps reduce the number of cars on the road is better for the environment. By taking up less space and reducing gridlock, buses and other public transit options can enable more efficient traffic flows for all vehicles, which in turn helps to reduce fuel waste and emissions that come from sitting in traffic jams.

4. Car Sharing/Car Club

Yes we know, this is not technically going car free! However, if a car or van really is necessary for you this Car Free Day, or any other day for that matter, this could be the perfect time to give car sharing a try. Research by car sharing company Drivy shows that car sharers drive 40% less and have greener mobility habits also one shared car replaces ten private cars and frees up to nine parking spots. And with most cars remaining parked 93% of the time, sharing one really does make sense both financially and for the environment.

5. Recycle your car

Of course we're biased on this one but we couldn't go without mentioning scrapping your old car! Whether you were so inspired by World Car Free Day that you're giving up your motor for good or if yours is reaching the end of the road and you're upgrading to something more environmentally friendly, CarTakeBack can help you responsibly recycle your old car or van.

If you're thinking of taking the plunge and going car free get an instant online quote at CarTakeback.com!