Going Car Free: The Oxford Car Free Challenge
Transport is the largest emitting sector in the UK, and cars contribute considerably to the overall emissions. Modal shifting - from cars to public transport and active travel is one of the most effective ways to reduce emissions.
In collaboration with Low Carbon Oxford North (LCON) and ESRC Centre for Climate Change and Social Transformations (CAST), we invited 12 drivers in Oxford to trial living car-free for three weeks and log their experiences. This research sheds light on the opportunities and challenges for car-free living, and gives guidance to local decision makers in the city (and beyond) about how they can help more people choose public transport and/or active travel.
The report shows that ordinary residents are willing to try alternative ways of getting around, while highlighting the city’s existing barriers to greener travel and the types of support that residents found most helpful in leaving their cars behind.
This report finds that:
Day-to-day transport emissions were slashed by 53% on average, with some participants virtually eliminating CO2 emissions associated with transport. Some participants reported saving money.
Many participants reported improved health and wellbeing, reconnection with the local environment and local people, as well as a sense of feeling good about having made a positive contribution to the problems of air pollution and climate change.
10 out of the 12 participants reported that they intend to cut down on car use permanently as a result of participating in the project.
3 out of the 12 participants reported that they plan to make significant lifestyle changes as a result of the project - such as giving up their car completely.
The report outlines a series of barriers to car-free living experienced by the participants during the project, and thus makes a series of recommendations to national and local governments.
The report argues that, to support more people to reduce their car use, national and local governments should:
Ensure public transport is reliable, affordable and accessible, including providing a greater variety of bus routes.
Invest in safe cycle infrastructure.
Put structured and positive initiatives and activities in place that give people motivation for trying alternatives and making changes in their travel habits.
Ensure that information about the alternatives to private car use in the local area is easily accessible in one place. Consider introducing a support service for residents to get help and advice for car-free travel.
Where possible, ensure that services, activities and affordable food shops are provided in local areas, reducing the need to travel to out-of-town destinations.
Ensure key walking routes are designed to be safe, attractive and easy to use, and facilitate walking for longer journeys as well as short ones, with particular attention to key routes for commuting, education and leisure.
Improve public awareness of car clubs and encourage residents to try car clubs or car sharing where there isn’t a feasible alternative to driving.
Make more cycle training available, including training for adults and training tailored to the needs of inexperienced cyclists.
Make appropriate provision for residents with mobility difficulties.
Consider ways to make cargo bikes more affordable or accessible. Ensure that local infrastructure (like bike parking) is appropriate for cargo bikes.
Why is this report important?
To hit our climate goals, UK car miles need to be drastically reduced. For this to happen, elected politicians and the public must work together to achieve a modal shift away from private cars, towards walking, wheeling and public transport. By drawing on real experiences of a diverse group of drivers as they trialled going car-free for three weeks, this report is useful in both inspiring members of the public to switch their travel habits, and in informing decision makers as to how to speed up the transition to lower carbon transport networks.