Car Free Day 2020

In Sutton we are ambitious to create safer, active greener streets in our borough and we are working hard to support active travel by making it safer and easier for people to walk, scoot or cycle locally.

This Car Free Day we are encouraging residents to leave the car at home, get active and embrace the many benefits of walking and cycling. Walking briskly or cycling for a total of just 20 minutes a day has a positive impact on your mental wellbeing and reduces your risk of chronic illnesses.

This year we have introduced a programme of measures to support pedestrians and cyclists, making active travel easier than ever before. Our new schemes include:

• Emergency measures in a number of high footfall areas to aid social distancing and make it easier to walk or cycle

• Eleven School Streets to reduce traffic and allow social distancing at drop off and pick up times as pupils return to school.

• Five Low Traffic Area schemes to improve air quality and reduce non-local traffic, as set out in the Council’s Environment Strategy

People across Sutton have really appreciated the better air quality and safer environment with fewer cars on the road which allowed many people to discover, or rediscover, the benefits of cycling and walking in the borough. However, as more of us began venturing out on the roads to head back to work or school, the traffic and air pollution levels began to rise again. 

In Sutton, many journeys made by motor vehicles are two miles or less. This Car Free Day we want to remind residents and visitors to the borough that switching to sustainable methods of transport wherever possible will help improve personal wellbeing along with the overall health of the borough.

In addition to our Safer, Active, Greener Streets programme we continue to invest in a range of initiatives across the borough designed to support sustainable transport, including:

• Try before you bike with Peddle My Wheels, helping to make bikes more accessible and affordable to anyone who lives, works or studies in the borough

• We will be making cycling and walking easier with a new cycle route through St Helier to help link Sutton Town Centre with Colliers Wood as well as nine streetspace measures across the borough

• Build your confidence with cycle skill training courses in the borough and children’s Bikeability courses at schools

For more information visit: www.sutton.gov.uk/saferstreets