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Sadiq Khan backs London boroughs to make World Car Free Day a 'huge success'

More than 10,000 people have signed a petition calling for private cars to be banned from London on September 22: Getty Images
More than 10,000 people have signed a petition calling for private cars to be banned from London on September 22: Getty Images

Sadiq Khan has given his strongest backing yet to a car-free day in London in a bid to cut deadly emissions from vehicles.

The mayor called on every borough to get involved in this year’s World Car Free Day on September 22 in order to make it a “huge success”.

Transport for London is working with more than 100 schools to encourage parents and carers to walk or cycle with their children for the day, while a series of other street events are also being planned.

Speaking during Mayor’s Question Time at City Hall, Mr Khan said: “Car-free events are great opportunities to inspire change by letting people experience the city from a different perspective.

“I encourage boroughs to work with TfL to make this day a huge success and I’ve asked TfL to consider how we can do even more to support this in 2019.”

A petition calling on the mayor to ban private cars on September 22 has been signed by more than 10,000 people and 100 organisations, but Mr Khan has not suggested he will go that far yet.

Sadiq Khan hopes car-free events will help cut emissions in the capital (AFP/Getty Images)
Sadiq Khan hopes car-free events will help cut emissions in the capital (AFP/Getty Images)

One of the mayor’s key transport aims is for 80 per cent of all trips to be made on foot, by cycle or by public transport by 2041. Air pollution in the capital has been linked to the premature deaths of thousands of Londoners every year.

Labour’s London Assembly spokesperson for the Environment, Leonie Cooper AM, said she was "delighted" to have the mayor's support for a car-free day in London.

“Initiatives such as car-free days are absolutely integral to improving our capital’s air quality," she said.

“I’m delighted that the Mayor has backed calls for a car-free day in London in September – it will help Londoners start to see their local streets in a very different way, as they’ll be safer and cleaner.

“In London, we must all play a part in tackling air pollution, so I was pleased that the Mayor backed my call for all London boroughs to pledge to get involved in World Car Free Day this September.

“It is also essential that schools and local organisations are fully engaged in the planning and promotion of car-free day activities, to ensure that the whole community reaps the rewards of the initiatives”.

World Car Free Day began in 2000, but similar events have been taking place in the UK since the 90s.

Cities around the world, including Bogota, Jakarta, Paris and Brussels, have already successfully implemented the initiative. In Jakarta, it takes place on a weekly basis.

Traffic has previously been banned from the capital during special events, such as the London Marathon.

This proved highly effective in tackling London's toxic air as a section of the route saw an 89 per cent drop in pollution on race day.

Research showed the air quality improved by almost nine tenths along Upper Thames Street as vehicles were barred from roads.