Busan is good

Annual ‘No Car Day’ on September 22 to improve the urban climate.

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Busan City will hold a ‘No Car Day’ on September 22 to improve the city’s air quality and reduce traffic volumes. By joining the World Carfree Day event held around the world every September 22nd, the city intends to encourage public transport and bicycle usage in order to tackle problems such as air pollution, traffic congestion and excessive energy consumption. The event’s success relies on citizens’ voluntary participation.

 

A ‘Car-Free’ zone will be created on a 750-meter stretch of road between the Olympic Intersection in front of BEXCO and the SUBI intersection, and various performances and exhibits will be held there for the benefit and enjoyment of citizens, from 6 am to 6 pm. In addition, there will be a bicycle parade on the 6.1 kilometer road from BEXCO to Dongbaekseom (Island).

  

In addition, ‘Car-Free’ zone events at Gwangbok-ro in Jung-gu District, Busan National University area in Geumjeong-gu District and Yeonseo Elementary School in Yeonje-gu District are planned.

 

To promote the event, all city workers from public agencies and private companies will be encouraged to use public transport.  Parking lots at the City Hall and at all public agencies will be closed temporarily as an additional encouragement for workers to use public transport.

 

The World Carfree Day event started in France in 1997 as an effort by citizens to reduce traffic volumes and improve the environment. It extended to 1,500 cities in 40 countries. Busan City has joined this event since 2008 to raise citizens’ awareness of issues such as air pollution from automobiles, traffic congestion and energy waste.

 

The city has also announced that the ‘No Car Day’ on September 22 will be an annual event, to encourage greater public transport use in and around Busan. This event will be a part of the Green Busan Campaign.