The Residents' Car Free Day
Some ideas for local authorities and residents to facilitate participation by towns where…
- the town centre is already pedestrianised, or;
- a town centre event would be too costly and time-consuming to organise, or;
- the campaigns are seen as anti-car, local people don't want them here.
Local authorities
Use local media outlets and direct mail to residents associations and other local groups to invite bids from residents (individuals, groups, associations) to put forward the case for their own street(s) to be the focus for the EMW-ITWMC. This will be a chance for local people to develop and pilot their own ideas in their own streets, (eg a lower speed limit, a homezone, a road closure...)
Draft letter, bid form and press release for local authorities (MS Word file, 37 KB)
Residents / local groups etc
Don't wait to be invited… you can make the first move! Just download the above bid form, fill it out, and send it into your local authority. Follow up with meeting request to discuss your ideas.
The Suburban Car Free Day
This new approach may take EMW-ITWMC away from the town centres (no-one ever said it had to be town centre!) and into the residential suburbs. Such events should be less onerous for local authorities to fund and organise. There will be substantial opportunity for local people to take on significant organisational roles, and relieve pressure on council officer time. Some local authorities may therefore, if they receive several good bids, be able to deliver more than one event on their patch.
