No Car Day

You would be forgiven for not noticing that yesterday (Tuesday, 22nd Sept) was NO CAR DAY in Liuzhou. The scheme was dreamed up by the national Ministry of Construction and 112 cities across the country were required to carry out "China Urban Public Transport Week and Car Free Day activities". This year was our turn.

In order to minimise disruption to the ongoing elevation of Liuzhou as a city dedicated to the internal combustion engine and the rest be hanged, they choose the venue with care. You see, when they say NO CAR DAY, they only mean part of the day and a small part of the city. Shanghai managed to hold out for 2½ hours on one street. Liuzhou went for the whole 12 hour experience.

Liuzhou cunningly chose to deprive cars from visiting places they can't go anyway. Around 80% of the declared car-free area is already pedestrian only or is under construction and there are no vehicles anyway.

Of course, although it wasn't Liuzhou's choice, holding it on a Tuesday didn't do any harm either. 

According to the propaganda, the exercise was designed to raise awareness of the environmental cost of motor cars and to promote 'green transport'. 

In other words, to get people out of their new bought toys and back onto bicycles. Dream on!

With Liuzhou gambling its entire economic future on the motor vehicle industry, it is hardly surprising that they did only the minimum required to satisfy Beijing. The environmental impact was probably close to nil.

Now, when they have their NO E-BIKE DAY, I'll be out there with flags flying! 

tags: liuzhou  car free day  transport  china  

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