Car Free Day returns with free rides on London Transit and events on closed streets
A celebration of movement and sustainability is returning to the streets of London.
On Sunday, Sept. 22, thousands of Londoners are expected to participate in World Car Free Day activities.
“The busses are free across the city -- all day,” explained Coun. Skylar Franke. “There's going to be bike rides along the Thames Valley Parkway as well. Dundas Place and Wortley Road will both be pedestrian-only and have tons of activities and fun things for families to do.”
Dancor Construction is covering the cost of free bus rides on London Transit on Sunday.
Celebrated since 2000, World Car Free Day is recognized by the United Nations as an opportunity to promote sustainability, active transportation, and community building.
This year’s celebration will be the first in London since the pandemic.
“We felt like there was more momentum building about it and we wanted to be very involved this year, to try to make it a bigger citywide initiative,” said Leah Derikx of the London Environmental Network.
Dundas Place and Wortley Road (Bruce St. to Craig St.) will be closed to vehicle traffic from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. to create a pedestrian environment.
The community is organizing walking tours around Wortley Village, martial arts demonstrations, yoga, and children's activities such as story times, games, and chalk drawing.
On Dundas Place, visitors can enjoy walking tours, live music, dancing, arts/crafts, and kids activities.
People are also invited to journey along the Thames Valley Parkway (TVP) to experience different activities including a 7-kilometre ride starting in Springbank Park at 1 p.m.
Community organizers will be providing refreshments along the TVP at Greenway Park (on the main branch) and at Blackfriars Bridge (on the north branch).
At the Forks of the Thames, a booth run by the Thames Region Ecological Association will have information about cycling safety, bike inspection tips, and free helmet checks.
London Bicycle Café will feature guided tours of the TVP and free E bike test rides.
“There are cities all over the world who are doing this more and more,” said Co-Chair Marian Robinson. “My inspiration was what's happening in Montreal, where this summer the mayor declared 11 neighborhoods to be car free.”
Londoners are asked to choose cycling, walking, e-scooter, or London Transit to commute to their destination.
Co-Chair David Stanford adds, “It’s very hard to change behaviours, but you can do a little bit at a time. We figure that’s the best way to go.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'We've been here before': Trudeau says Canada will prioritize interests in potential U.S. trade renegotiation
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says that if the next U.S. president re-opens trade negotiations for the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), Canada will prioritize its own interests.
B.C. billionaire posts third large sign criticizing NDP ahead of the election
British Columbia billionaire Chip Wilson has put up yet another billboard message to voters, his third post outside his multimillion-dollar mansion in NDP Leader David Eby's own riding.
Missing father, kids spotted in New Zealand wilderness 3 years after disappearance: police
A New Zealand man who disappeared with his three children in 2021 was spotted on a farm along the country's northwest coast, police say.
WATCH LIVE NOW Deadly Old Montreal fire: police arrest two suspects aged 18 and 20
Montreal police have arrested two young adults in connection with the deadly fire in Old Montreal last week that killed two people.
Former public safety minister didn't know about delayed spy warrant, he tells inquiry
Former public safety minister Bill Blair denies having any knowledge about delays in approving a spy service warrant in 2021 that may have included references to people in his own government.
'It went horribly wrong': DNA analysis sheds light on lost Arctic expedition's grisly end
Archaeologists have identified the cannibalized remains of a senior officer who perished during an ill-fated 19th century Arctic expedition, offering insight into its lost crew's tragic and grisly final days.
Winnipeggers arrested after images surface of cats being tortured, killed
Two Winnipeggers have been arrested after images and videos were posted online of animals being tortured and killed.
Partial remains of British climber believed found 100 years after Everest ascent
The partial remains of a British mountaineer who might -- or might not -- have been one of the first two people to climb Mount Everest are believed to have been found a century after their ascent of the world's highest peak, according to an expedition led by National Geographic.
Al Pacino says being a new dad at 84 is a 'mini miracle'
Al Pacino is enjoying being a late-in-life dad. The legendary actor talked about being a father to a brood, including to 16-month-old Roman with producer Noor Alfallah.