Lincoln motorists urged to join World Carfree Day

Motorists in Lincoln are being encouraged to join millions of others around the world and not use their car for a full day.

The City of Lincoln Council hopes residents will do their bit in cutting global pollution by using alternative transport.

World Carfree Day is an annual event that is taking place tomorrow.

City council leader Ric Metcalfe said: "World Carfree Day provides a great opportunity for people from across the globe to join together and reduce our overdependence on the car.

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"I'd encourage everyone who can to leave their car at home on Saturday and use a more sustainable mode of travel such as cycling, walking or taking public transport."

The authority is backing the worldwide scheme in line with its own Lincoln Green campaign to cut the city's carbon footprint.

It also recently announced parking discounts for low-emission vehicles and introduced the Lincoln Travel Plan, which involves providing employees with loans for bikes and train season tickets.

Mr Metcalfe said the authority was now receiving help from city firms for its green schemes.

"More than 40 local businesses including Siemens, Walkers and Mouchel have signed our Low Carbon Lincoln Charter, committing them to reducing their carbon footprint where possible – and that's just the start," he said.

"Ultimately, our aim is for Lincoln to take the lead in tackling climate change."

Sally Horscroft, who is a member of Lincolnshire Greenpeace and does not use a car, said she was in favour of events like World Carfree Day.

"It's a brilliant idea," she said. "There are so many benefits of using other means of transport – financial, health and environmental.

"I think councils have some responsibility for getting people using more sustainable transport but I think there is a lot of personal responsibility too."

European Mobility Week is another green scheme which runs from September 16 to September 22 every year.

Its aim is to encourage local authorities to introduce and promote sustainable transport measures and to invite their citizens to try out alternatives to car use.